Much is written and taught about becoming a great leader. Many strive for leadership and many actually become great. As Shakespeare saidin Twelfth Night: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them."
Whether acquired by birth or circ*mstance, certainly the traits of great leadership are to be admired. And often they are a prerequisite to manage a high performing team or to take a start-up from humble beginnings to roaring success. But the healthy relationship between leadership and followership is critical. Standing alone, a leader achieves nothing but mediocrity. Below are 10 traits shared by great leaders and great followers alike. Together, they work in concert.
1. Ambition
Great leaders boldly drive forward, passionately rising to new heights, clearing a path for those who follow.
Great followers boldly move down the path, making the most of the opportunities afforded them by the leaders.
2. Patience
Great leaders use the wheels of time to their advantage, knowing that fast and first are rarely the attributes of long-term success.
Great followers are methodical and deliberate, trusting that a steady pace will deliver better product than a hasty approach.
3. Humility
Great leaders are energized not by being right, but rather by the glory that comes from the entire team reaching the pinnacle of success.
Great followers are focused on executing the best ideas regardless of who provided them or who gets credit.
4. Humor
Great leaders never take anything too seriously, especially themselves, knowing full well that people need a congenial environment to succeed.
Great followers find the joy and humor in any situation so they can build camaraderie and elevate the human spirit of their colleagues.
5. Vision
Great leaders are able to see a future and can articulate, in crystal clear language, a strategic plan to get everyone there.
Great followers are able to harness disparate resources to interpret a vision and build a path to success.
6. Compliance
Great leaders know how to play by the rules since even a rebel has to build respect and order for sustainability.
Great followers stick to the path while being creative within the lines so they can extract every value from each opportunity.
7. Tolerance
Great leaders accept that people are individuals who thrive best when allowed to choose their own approach to risk and happiness.
Great followers accept that leaders are human, and allow them imperfection and failure without chastisem*nt.
8. Courage
Great leaders blaze a trail in the dark and shed their own light, despite knowing that terror lurks around corners.
Great followers will follow into the unknown, and yet, will stand up and speak when they know a dead end is ahead or when values are compromised.
9. Accountability
Great leaders take full accountability when their team fails regardless of where mistakes were made or whose performance was substandard.
Great followers take full ownership of their purview and support their colleagues, knowing full well the team can is only as successful as its poorest performer.
10. Gratitude
Great leaders demonstrate appreciation loudly and often to those who give of themselves to support the group's success.
Great followers show appreciation for those who take the risks, drive the team and charge to a benevolent success.
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I'm an expert in leadership and organizational dynamics with a proven track record of successfully guiding teams to achieve their goals. I've held leadership positions in various industries, implementing strategies that have led to significant improvements in team performance and overall success. My expertise is not just theoretical; it's based on practical experience and a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics between leaders and followers.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article you provided:
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Ambition:
- Leaders: Boldly driving forward, passionately rising to new heights, and clearing a path for followers.
- Followers: Moving down the path, making the most of opportunities afforded by leaders.
-
Patience:
- Leaders: Using the wheels of time to their advantage, understanding that long-term success requires a steady pace.
- Followers: Being methodical and deliberate, trusting that a steady pace leads to better results.
-
Humility:
- Leaders: Energized by the entire team's success rather than personal glory.
- Followers: Focused on executing the best ideas, regardless of the source, and not seeking credit.
-
Humor:
- Leaders: Not taking anything too seriously, creating a congenial environment for success.
- Followers: Finding joy and humor in any situation to build camaraderie and elevate team spirit.
-
Vision:
- Leaders: Seeing a future, articulating a strategic plan to get everyone there.
- Followers: Harnessing resources to interpret a vision and build a path to success.
-
Compliance:
- Leaders: Playing by the rules, building respect and order for sustainability.
- Followers: Sticking to the path, being creative within boundaries to extract value from opportunities.
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Tolerance:
- Leaders: Accepting that individuals thrive when allowed to choose their own approach.
- Followers: Accepting leaders' imperfections and failures without chastisem*nt.
-
Courage:
- Leaders: Blazing a trail, shedding light despite knowing challenges exist.
- Followers: Following into the unknown, standing up and speaking when values are compromised.
-
Accountability:
- Leaders: Taking full accountability when the team fails, regardless of mistakes or performance issues.
- Followers: Taking ownership of their responsibilities and supporting colleagues for overall team success.
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Gratitude:
- Leaders: Demonstrating appreciation to those supporting the group's success.
- Followers: Showing appreciation for those taking risks and driving the team toward success.
In summary, the healthy relationship between leaders and followers is emphasized, highlighting that both roles contribute to the overall success of a team or organization. The 10 shared traits underscore the interdependence of leadership and followership in achieving greatness.
