Servant Leadership vs Followership: Decode the Concepts with a Deep Dive
Leadership and followership are two sides of the same coin, with each playing a crucial role in the functioning and success of any team or organization. However, there’s a lot to learn and unpack when we delve deeper into specific types of leadership and followership. One of the most influential and transformative leadership styles is servant leadership. But how does this compare and contrast with the concept of followership? In this article, we will conduct a deep dive into the topic of servant leadership vs followership , unpacking these concepts to provide you with a richer understanding of their roles and impacts.
Table of Contents
What is Servant Leadership and what is Followership?
Servant Leadership is a leadership approach in which the primary goal of the leader is to serve others. This leadership style prioritizes the needs of the team members, the organization, and the community above the self. The servant leader empowers and develops people, demonstrates humility, and contributes to the well-being of others. They place a great emphasis on the growth and development of their team, aiming to enhance individuals’ abilities and foster a positive work environment.
On the other hand, Followership refers to the behaviors and attitudes of individuals acting in a subordinate role. While it may sound less glamorous than leadership, followership is equally important in any organization or team. Effective followers are not just passive observers but active participants in their organization’s success. They understand their role, manage themselves well, remain committed to their organizations, and courageously challenge their leaders when necessary.
Key Differences between Servant Leadership and Followership
- Focus : While servant leadership places an emphasis on serving others and putting their needs first, followership focuses on supporting and executing the leader’s vision.
- Position : A servant leader is usually in a position of authority and uses their power to serve others, while a follower operates from a subordinate role, playing a supporting part in the organization’s success.
- Responsibility : Servant leaders are responsible for setting the direction and vision of the team, while followers are expected to understand this vision and work towards it.
- Influence : Servant leaders have a significant influence on organizational culture through their selfless and empowering approach, while followers contribute to the culture by actively engaging in their roles and supporting the leader’s vision.
- Development : Servant leaders focus on the development of their team members, while effective followers seek their personal and professional development within the framework provided by their leaders.
Key Similarities between Servant Leadership and Followership
- Goal alignment : Both servant leadership and followership aim for the achievement of the organization’s goals . They share a common purpose and work in tandem to achieve it.
- Active roles : Servant leaders and effective followers are not passive. They both actively contribute to the organization’s success, though in different capacities.
- Value contribution : Both servant leaders and followers contribute significantly to the team’s culture and productivity. The leader serves and empowers, while the follower supports and executes.
- Ethics and values : Servant leaders and followers both need to adhere to high ethical standards and shared values for their roles to be effective. Honesty, respect, and commitment are common in both roles.
- Continuous learning : Servant leaders and effective followers understand the importance of continuous learning. They both seek opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Communication : Effective communication is crucial in both servant leadership and followership. Whether it’s the leader conveying the vision or the follower providing feedback, open and honest communication is key to their success.
Pros of Servant Leadership over Followership
- Empowerment : Servant leadership empowers team members , nurturing their skills and encouraging personal and professional growth.
- Morale and Satisfaction : By placing the team’s needs first, servant leadership can lead to higher job satisfaction and morale, which in turn can result in lower turnover rates.
- Team Development : Servant leaders prioritize team development, which can help create a more skilled and adaptable workforce.
- Long-term Vision : Servant leaders often have a long-term perspective, planning for the future and fostering sustainable success.
- Community Impact : Servant leadership extends beyond the organization, often focusing on serving the broader community as well, which can lead to increased public goodwill and reputation.
- Innovative Environment : By empowering team members and encouraging their growth, servant leaders often foster an environment conducive to innovation and creativity.
Cons of Servant Leadership compared to Followership
- Time-Intensive : Servant leadership requires substantial time and commitment to cater to individual team members’ needs and foster their growth, which may not always be practical in a fast-paced environment.
- Misinterpretation : The emphasis on service in servant leadership can sometimes be misinterpreted as a lack of authority or decisiveness , which could potentially undermine the leader’s position.
- Dependence on Leader : Servant leadership can sometimes lead to excessive dependence on the leader, limiting the team’s self-sufficiency.
- Difficult Balance : It can be challenging to balance the needs of individual team members with the overall goals of the organization.
- Slow Decision Making : Decision making in servant leadership might take longer, as the leader seeks to consider and address the views and needs of all team members.
- Potential for Exploitation : In some cases, servant leaders may be taken advantage of by individuals who see their servant-first approach as a weakness to be exploited
Pros of Followership over Servant Leadership
- Less Responsibility : Followership generally involves less responsibility compared to servant leadership, allowing individuals to focus more on their specific tasks.
- Skill Development : In a followership role, individuals can concentrate on developing specific skills and competencies in their area of expertise.
- Flexibility : Followers often have the flexibility to adapt to different leaders and leadership styles, making them versatile contributors in various situations.
- Supporting Role : Effective followers play a critical supporting role that contributes to the overall success of a team, which can be rewarding and impactful.
- Learning Opportunities : Followership can provide valuable learning opportunities. Observing different leadership styles can prepare followers for future leadership roles.
- Efficiency : Followership can lead to more efficiency as responsibilities are divided, and individuals can focus on specific tasks.
Cons of Followership compared to Servant Leadership
- Limited Authority : Followers generally have limited authority to make decisions, which can be frustrating for those who want more control over their work.
- Dependent on Leadership : The success of followership is highly dependent on the quality of leadership. A poor leader can make followership challenging.
- Limited Recognition : Followers may not receive the same level of recognition or reward as leaders, even when they contribute significantly to the team’s success.
- Potential for Exploitation : There is a potential for followers to be exploited or undervalued by unscrupulous leaders.
- Less Influence : Followers generally have less influence over the team or organization’s direction compared to leaders.
- Challenge in Growth : Sometimes, growth opportunities may be limited in a followership role, especially if the leader does not prioritize the development of their team.
Situations when Servant Leadership is better than Followership
- Employee Engagement : Servant leadership is particularly effective when higher levels of employee engagement and morale are needed. By putting the team’s needs first, servant leaders can foster a supportive and positive environment.
- Organizational Transformation : In situations requiring significant organizational change or transformation, a servant leadership approach can be beneficial. It encourages collaboration, communication, and supports team members through changes.
- Team Development : Servant leadership excels in situations where team development is a priority. It allows leaders to focus on nurturing and enhancing the skills of each team member.
- Community Engagement : If an organization aims to strengthen its community relations or CSR initiatives, servant leadership can be an ideal approach.
- Innovation and Creativity : Servant leadership is effective in environments that encourage innovation and creativity, as it empowers team members to think freely and take risks.
Situations when Followership is better than Servant Leadership
- Highly Specialized Tasks : In situations where tasks are highly specialized and require specific expertise, a strong followership can be beneficial as it allows individuals to focus on their specific roles.
- Inexperience with Leadership : For those inexperienced in leadership roles, effective followership provides an opportunity to observe, learn, and gradually develop leadership skills.
- Autocratic Leadership Style : Under an autocratic leadership style, followership can be more suitable as decisions are typically made by the leader, and followers are expected to execute them.
- High-Paced Environments : In fast-paced environments where quick decision-making is necessary, a strong followership might be more effective to promptly implement decisions.
- Large Organizations : In large organizations with established processes and hierarchies, followership may be more effective and necessary for maintaining order and efficiency.
- Crisis Management : In crisis situations, where decisive action is needed, having effective followers who can quickly execute instructions can be invaluable.
Servant leadership vs followership summary
Throughout this exploration of servant leadership and followership, we’ve seen that both play significant roles within a team or an organization. While they differ in their approach, responsibilities, and expectations, they share a common goal: contributing to the success of their teams. Understanding the key differences, similarities, benefits, and drawbacks of servant leadership vs followership can help individuals better navigate their roles, whether they’re leading or following. Remember, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach – it’s about choosing and adapting the style that best suits you and your organization’s unique needs and goals. As we’ve discovered, both servant leadership and followership have their time and place, and recognizing this can lead to more effective, harmonious, and productive teams.
| Servant Leadership | Followership | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Serving others, team needs | Supporting, executing leader’s vision |
| Position | Authority, uses power to serve | Subordinate, supporting role |
| Responsibility | Setting direction, team vision | Understand, work towards vision |
| Influence | Significant on culture | Contributes by engaging in roles |
| Development | Focuses on team member growth | Seeks personal, professional development |
| Similarities | Goal alignment, active roles, value contribution, ethics, continuous learning, communication | Goal alignment, active roles, value contribution, ethics, continuous learning, communication |
| Pros | Empowerment, high morale, team development, long-term vision, community impact, innovative environment | Less responsibility, skill development, flexibility, supporting role, learning opportunities, efficiency |
| Cons | Time-intensive, misinterpretation, dependence on leader, difficult balance, slow decision making, potential for exploitation | Limited authority, dependent on leadership, limited recognition, potential for exploitation, less influence, challenge in growth |
| Situations Favoring | Employee engagement, organizational transformation, team development, community engagement, innovation | Highly specialized tasks, inexperience with leadership, autocratic leadership style, high-paced environments, large organizations, crisis management |
About The Author
Hidayat Rizvi
Related posts.
Achievement Oriented Leadership: How to Lead with it
What is The Paradox of Servant Leadership and How to Overcome It
Lean Leadership and How It is Disrupting the Business World
Relational Leadership and how it Compares to Positional Transactional and Transformational Leadership
Leave a comment cancel reply.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Important Links
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
Social Networks
- hidayat.rizvi.1
- @HidayatRizvi
- hidayat_rizvi_2000
- hidayat-rizvi-b0788b10
HidayatRizvi.com © 2024. All Rights Reserved
Get a free consultation, enter your contact details and i will get in touch, send a message. i will respond quickly.
Followership and Servant Leadership
This essay will explore the concepts of followership and servant leadership, examining their roles and importance in effective leadership and organizational success. It will discuss the characteristics of good followership, such as loyalty, integrity, and active participation, and how these qualities complement and enhance servant leadership. The piece will also analyze the principles of servant leadership, including empathy, listening, and stewardship, and how these principles foster a positive and productive work environment. The relationship between leaders and followers and how they can collaboratively contribute to achieving organizational goals will be a key focus. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Goal.
How it works
The effectiveness of leadership, and the success of those who follow that leadership, determine the success of an organization itself. The Army, at any level, is in no way an exception. Followership and servant leadership are both pivotal aspects of mission completion and are easily compared due to their mutual goals. Each of these are unique as well and depends on certain circumstances to achieve success. This essay on followership and servant leadership within the Army will highlight their differences and how they are both necessary.
Followership is defined as the capacity and willingness to follow a leader. Everyone in the Army has someone who gives them orders they must follow, as well as many standards that are expected of every soldier regardless of rank or position. The followers are a leader’s means to accomplish tasks. There are many different types of followers, the most effective of these is the exemplary follower. Exemplary followership is the idea of the follower assuming responsibility both individually and for the group as a whole. Doing this ensures that the follower understands that individual shortcomings or individual success affects the group and the success of the leader.
A servant leader, simply put, places the needs of others first. In 1970 Robert K. Greenleaf coined the phrase “Servant leadership.” Servant leadership depends primarily on the group dynamic. Servant leaders focus on ethical decision-making and concern for their subordinates. They do this by fulfilling their needs and offer support needed for achieving work and personal goals. The servant leader does this while maintaining the mission-first mindset. When possible, a servant leader also involves the soldiers in the decision-making process and develops a more democratic approach to planning and performance. This leads to increased involvement and trust, which in turn create a sense of community. Servant leadership often relies more on techniques of persuasion rather than the authority of rank and position.
We all have an obligation to both follow and lead. There will always be someone over you whose expectations you must strive to meet, making followership necessary for us all. We must delegate tasks to those who can complete the mission expected of the team to have it completed as expediently as possible. When delegating tasks or directly leading a working team, we must prepare them for success. Servant leadership comes in at this point by making sure the soldiers understand the objective and have all the required materials to succeed. Followership and servant leadership go hand in hand when creating a successful and cohesive environment.
While followership and servant leadership share many ideologies, they require balance to exist. This essay about followership vs. servant leadership and the BLC (Basic Leader Course) showcases this balance. The level of servant leadership may increase or decrease depending upon the circumstances. Exemplary followers take the initiative and strive for excellence. They show that they are mission-minded and reliable. The servant leadership makes sure they are prepared for success and is open to listening to the ideas they may have to better execute a task. The connection between the two fosters mutual success. This relationship is best described by Sun Tzu “Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest of valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.”
- SAY NO TO “YES MEN”: FOLLOWERSHIP IN THE MODERN MILITARY Author: Eve M. Corrothers, Major, USAF
- B112 Reading B Servant leadership- 1 This reading is a compilation of three sources: A, Hunter, J. (2004). The world’s most powerful leadership principle. New York, NY B, Spears, L.C. (Ed.). (1998). Insights on leadership: Service, stewardship, spirit and servant leadership. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. C, Zohar, D. (1997). Rewiring the corporate brain. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler
- “Character and Servant Leadership: 10 Characteristics of Effective, Caring Leaders’ Author: Larry C. Spears, published in ‘The Journal of Virtues and Leadership,’ Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Servant leadership and followership army differ in their approach to leadership. Servant leadership empowers individuals towards organizational goals, while followership army emphasizes obedience to authority. Despite their differences, both models emphasize collaboration, communication, and individual accountability.
In the army, servant leadership comprises four essential elements. These elements include active listening, which entails understanding subordinates’ concerns, as well as showing empathy by acknowledging their feelings and needs. Moreover, respecting subordinates by treating them with dignity and fairness, and being humble, without seeking self-glorification, are also crucial elements of servant leadership.
Strong relationships between leaders and followers are crucial in the army. Followers require assurance that their leaders are competent and have a clear plan, and that they are actively contributing to a larger goal. Leaders must have confidence in their followers, relying on their ability to comply with orders and carry out assigned tasks without questioning their authority. Effective communication, mutual respect, and trust are all necessary components of a healthy leader-follower relationship in the military.
Cite this page
Followership and Servant Leadership. (2021, Nov 22). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/
"Followership and Servant Leadership." PapersOwl.com , 22 Nov 2021, https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/
PapersOwl.com. (2021). Followership and Servant Leadership . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/ [Accessed: 30 Sep. 2024]
"Followership and Servant Leadership." PapersOwl.com, Nov 22, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/
"Followership and Servant Leadership," PapersOwl.com , 22-Nov-2021. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/. [Accessed: 30-Sep-2024]
PapersOwl.com. (2021). Followership and Servant Leadership . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/followership-and-servant-leadership/ [Accessed: 30-Sep-2024]
Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade
Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.
Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!
Please check your inbox.
You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.
Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide
1. Tell Us Your Requirements
2. Pick your perfect writer
3. Get Your Paper and Pay
Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!
Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.
short deadlines
100% Plagiarism-Free
Certified writers
Home — Essay Samples — Business — Leadership — Comparison of Followership and Servant Leadership
Comparison of Followership and Servant Leadership
- Categories: Leadership Leadership Styles
About this sample
Words: 409 |
Published: Feb 8, 2022
Words: 409 | Page: 1 | 3 min read
Table of contents
Introduction, defining followership and servant leadership, common traits and values, responsibilities, distinguishing characteristics, references:.
- Kelley, R. E. (2008). Followership: How Followers Are Creating Change and Changing Leaders. Harvard Business Press.
- Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. Paulist Press.
- Spears, L. C. (Ed.). (1998). Insights on Leadership: Service, Stewardship, Spirit, and Servant-Leadership. John Wiley & Sons.
- Hunter, J. C. (2004). The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle: How to Become a Servant Leader. Crown Business.
Cite this Essay
To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:
Let us write you an essay from scratch
- 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
- Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours
Get high-quality help
Verified writer
- Expert in: Business
+ 120 experts online
By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email
No need to pay just yet!
Related Essays
1 pages / 605 words
2 pages / 956 words
1 pages / 628 words
1 pages / 473 words
Remember! This is just a sample.
You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.
121 writers online
Still can’t find what you need?
Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled
Related Essays on Leadership
Have you ever wondered why do you want to be a leader? The aspiration to lead is a complex and multifaceted one, often rooted in personal values, experiences, and aspirations. The pursuit of leadership roles is a prevalent [...]
Nursing leadership is an essential component of healthcare delivery, with effective leadership playing a critical role in providing quality patient care and improving healthcare outcomes. This essay will explore the definition, [...]
As human beings, our lives are intricately intertwined with those of others. We live in communities, work in teams, and build relationships that shape our personal and professional experiences. In this essay, we will explore the [...]
Queen Elizabeth I of England, often referred to as the "Golden Queen" or the "Virgin Queen," is celebrated as one of history's most exceptional leaders. Her reign, which spanned from 1558 to 1603, is characterized by political [...]
The George Washington UniversityMedStar Washington Hospital Center is the largest hospital in Washington D.C.; With 926 beds and roughly 2400 employees within MWHC’s nursing department, it is also among the 50 largest in the [...]
In the world of sports, the role of a team captain is crucial in fostering unity, motivation, and success within a team. As a team captain, one must possess strong leadership qualities, effective communication skills, and a deep [...]
Related Topics
By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.
Where do you want us to send this sample?
By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.
Be careful. This essay is not unique
This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before
Download this Sample
Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts
Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.
Please check your inbox.
We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!
Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!
We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .
- Instructions Followed To The Letter
- Deadlines Met At Every Stage
- Unique And Plagiarism Free
Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.
To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .
Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
Comparing Followership with Servant Leadership
This paper compares Kelley's theory of Followership and Greenleaf's theory of Servant Leadership. It discusses their strengths and weaknesses, how they might compliment each other, and the extent to which these theories may apply cross-culturally. Attention will be given to the problems that might arise from exporting these models.
Related Papers
Rakesh Mittal
Uzma Ismail
Jamie Callahan
Abstract Servant leadership theory has been written about a great deal but has not been studied extensively. Much of the research work in support of servant leadership is based on opinion, case study, and emotional arguments. We examine servant leadership, its characteristics, and the promotion of this mythic theory as it has been defined through engendered language and a Judeo-Christian lens which implies certain values and leaves little space for questioning the theory.
The Palgrave Handbook of Servant Leadership
Indujeeva Peiris
The Twenty-first century is becoming disruptive in many ways; the natural and the man-made world is changing rapidly. Over the past decade, both governmental and business leaders have struggled to earn the trust, commitment and support of followers and society at large, and business “ethics” has repeatedly been labeled an “oxymoron.” Leaders may influence their followers using questionable tactics that can be unethical and pursue goals that are not right, not for shareholders, employees, customers, communities, nor for themselves. Therefore, the aim of a leader must be to engage in leadership practices that are not only effective but also ethical and moral. In this chapter, we highlight that witethics, moral character, ability to listen with the intent to understand and empathize with others, trust, and the ability to assess the consequences that lead to a greater good, leadership becomes ineffective. In that regard, servant leadership offers a unique perspective and a solution to shift our current thinking and converge our worldview into a universal value system that can serve humanity and the natural world. Servant leadership qualifies as a holistic leadership approach which focuses on stakeholder development in rational, relational, ethical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
International Journal of Servant-Leadership
Jeffrey McClellan
Adobi Timiyo
Long Range Planning
Canadian Institute for Knowledge Development Publishing
The Palgrave Handbook of Servant Leadership (pp. 1-24).
Indujeeva Peiris , I.K. Peiris , Prof. Rohana Ulluwishewa
The Twenty-first century is becoming disruptive in many ways; the natural and the man-made world is changing rapidly. Over the past decade, both governmental and business leaders have struggled to earn the trust, commitment and support of followers and society at large, and business “ethics” has repeatedly been labeled an “oxymoron.” Leaders may influence their followers using questionable tactics that can be unethical and pursue goals that are not right, not for shareholders, employees, customers, communities, nor for themselves. Therefore, the aim of a leader must be to engage in leadership practices that are not only effective but also ethical and moral. In this chapter, we highlight that without ethics, moral character, ability to listen with the intent to understand and empathize with others, trust, and the ability to assess the consequences that lead to a greater good, leadership becomes ineffective. In that regard, servant leadership offers a unique perspective and a solution to shift our current thinking and converge our worldview into a universal value system that can serve humanity and the natural world. Servant leadership qualifies as a holistic leadership approach which focuses on stakeholder development in rational, relational, ethical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.
RELATED PAPERS
QUEST JOURNALS
Leadership & Organization …
Katie Mcquade
kathleen patterson
Journal of Business and Psychology
JEREMIAH GAKURU
SHADRECK CHISULO PHIRI
shadreck phiri chisulo
EmergingScience Journal
Thanh Nguyễn
Damalie Sentumbwe
In S. Adjibolooso (Ed.), The human factor in shaping the course of history and development (pp. 69-110)
Paul T P Wong
Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.)
Celeste Mueller
European Business Review
IOSR Journals
Darin Molnar
William R Threet
Sylvia Habel
Hartwell T P Davis
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
Dr Dr Motsamai John Modise MJ
James Townsend
Southeastern University
Dr. Robert Griffith
Faith Today
Craig Smith
Administrative Sciences (ISSN 2076-3387) (ESCI & Scopus indexing)
RELATED TOPICS
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
- Find new research papers in:
- Health Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Academia ©2024
Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military Essay
- To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
- As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
- As a template for you assignment
Generally, high performance requires an appropriate leadership style that values the interest of followers. For instance, in the military, the leaders must have an unselfish mindset to enable them to encourage the aspect of diversity within the camp. Following the demanding nature of military operations, soldiers should be able to work in harmony to support the goals of the intended mission. Therefore, it is important for leaders to comprehend the facets of followership and servant leadership to integrate the teams effectively into the organization.
The term ‘followership’ refers to the ability of the followers to be active team members, take required direction, and show their commitment towards the management. In other words, the juniors are capable of executing the assigned responsibilities as stated by the leader. On the other hand, servant leadership is a headship style that describes the interaction between the supervisor and the subordinates. The approach allows the frontrunner to address the needs of staff to enhance their commitment towards achieving the set objectives.
Servant leadership and followership have some key aspects in common. For instance, in the approaches, the followers and servant leaders value commitment. The soldiers in the military are dedicated to serving and executing the commands given by their supervisors (Barry et al., 2021). Similarly, the supervisors are devoted to ensuring the officers obtain what they need to keep them active throughout their missions. Furthermore, there is an element of loyalty whereby the armed forces are dependable and willing to perform any activity that meets their objective set by the commander. In addition, in both cases, there is mutual respect and trust between the leaders and their juniors. For instance, when supervisors are giving orders and guidance, the officers are confident and ready to follow their directives given. Similarly, the Generals always believe in the capabilities of the soldiers and accord the necessary respect. Moreover, followership and servant leadership portrays the tendency of wiliness to take action. In the military, leaders and juniors are ever ready to undertake any mission despite their situation. They are driven by the need to serve the people and achieve their goals.
Despite having similar attributes, followership and servant leadership still differ significantly from each other. For instance, the responsibilities of leaders are more unlike the ones of followers. The Generals in the military must ensure the operations are successful by coordinating and inspiring the junior officers to concentrate and deliver the required services (Lee et al., 2020). The subordinate has less commitment since they are not much concerned and do not need much awareness and conceptualization of the whole operation processes in the camp. Furthermore, servant leaders are known for giving orders and performing other necessary operations to enable the subordinates to comply effectively. On the other hand, followership embraces the culture of following instructions and strictly executing the commands from the commander.
In the military, followership and servant leadership are crucial approaches for ensuring effective performance to achieve objectives. Soldiers portray a high level of loyalty by following the orders given by their leaders without questioning the commanders’ actions. Similarly, the supervisors trust the activities of the officers and assigned them duties knowing that they will deliver. However, on the basis of responsibilities, servant leaders have several tasks to perform that demand more attention from them as compared to the junior officers.
Barry, E. S., Bader-Larsen, K. S., Meyer, H. S., Durning, S. J., & Varpio, L. (2021). Leadership and Followership in military interprofessional health care teams. Military Medicine , 186 (Supplement_3), 7-15.
Lee, A., Lyubovnikova, J., Tian, A. W., & Knight, C. (2020). Servant leadership: A meta‐analytic examination of incremental contribution, moderation, and mediation. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology , 93 (1), 1-44.
- Extremism: The Contribution of the Military
- The Foundation of Army Leadership and Its Factors
- Keys to leadership in HCA
- Nursing Leadership in Emotional and Cultural Aspects
- Richard Branson's Leadership Strategy
- The Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa
- Challenges of Managing the Army and War
- Operation Anaconda Case Study: Analysis
- What Happened in Operation Anaconda
- The Army of the United States' Modernization Strategy
- Chicago (A-D)
- Chicago (N-B)
IvyPanda. (2023, August 26). Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military. https://ivypanda.com/essays/followership-and-servant-leadership-in-the-military/
"Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military." IvyPanda , 26 Aug. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/followership-and-servant-leadership-in-the-military/.
IvyPanda . (2023) 'Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military'. 26 August.
IvyPanda . 2023. "Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military." August 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/followership-and-servant-leadership-in-the-military/.
1. IvyPanda . "Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military." August 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/followership-and-servant-leadership-in-the-military/.
Bibliography
IvyPanda . "Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military." August 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/followership-and-servant-leadership-in-the-military/.
IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:
- Basic site functions
- Ensuring secure, safe transactions
- Secure account login
- Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
- Remembering privacy and security settings
- Analyzing site traffic and usage
- Personalized search, content, and recommendations
- Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda
Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.
Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.
Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:
- Remembering general and regional preferences
- Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers
Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .
To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.
Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .
- Servant Leadership: Organization Development Words: 581
- The Concept of Servant Leadership and Its Difference From Followership Words: 649
- The Concept of Servant Leadership Words: 846
- Leadership Styles: Then and Now Words: 1728
- Servant Leadership in a Police Organization Words: 2230
- Servant Leader Vs Follower Words: 584
- Followership and Leadership in Healthcare Words: 3105
- Servant Leadership and Followership Words: 275
- Steward Versus Servant Leadership in Christianity Words: 1383
- Followership as Critical Part of Leadership Words: 651
Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership
It is important to note the fact that leadership plays a major role in society. The main reason is that it is a core element of any organization, including private, public, for-profit, or non-profit. However, a leader can utilize a different range of approaches in order to lead his or her followers. In the given assessment, the analysis will focus on key similarities and differences between followership leadership and servant leadership. The main difference is that followership leadership focuses on followers and servant leadership focuses on leaders, but they are similar since the core element is service, empathy, and proactiveness.
One should be aware that both followership leadership and servant leadership are only a few examples of a wide range of leadership styles. In the case of the former, followership leadership emphasizes the importance of a follower. Followers can fall into five major categories, which are determined by their proactiveness, independence, and critical thinking (“B112 Followership and Servant Leadership Fundamentals,” n.d.). In the case of servant leadership, it emphasizes the importance of a leader. Under this leadership style, a leader needs to put his or her followers first by serving them (Eva et al., 2018). Such a person needs to be empathetic, persuasive, committed to the growth of his or her people, and present (“B112 Followership and Servant Leadership Fundamentals,” n.d.). Therefore, the given leadership styles have distinct definitions and focus.
The main similarity between servant leadership and followership leadership is in the fact that leaders and followers are interconnected. In other words, a leader cannot effectively lead without helping his or her followers, and the latter cannot effectively follow without helping the former. The most desirable followers under the followership leadership express similar traits as servant leaders under the servant leadership. For example, both of them need to be proactive and independent in either assisting a leader or followers. Both models encourage a more empathetic service to the other part.
The primary difference between servant leadership and followership leadership style is in the fact that the former focuses on leader attributes and the latter focuses on a follower attributes. Therefore, these frameworks approach the idea of leadership from different perspectives. In servant leadership, a leader plays a central role in ensuring the well-being and success of his or her followers. However, in followership leadership, effective followers determine whether or not a leader will be successful. Thus, the power for decision-making lies either in the hands of a leader or follower. The most undesirable followers are the ones, who are dependent, passive, and lack critical thinking. They fall into a group called “sheep,” who mindlessly follow a leader. The “yes people” group are active but lack critical thinking and independence, which is why they actively agree with a leader. A follower can also be independent and critical but be passive, which creates the group of “alienated followers” (“B112 Followership and Servant Leadership Fundamentals,” n.d.). The most desirable followers are the ones who are active, independent, and can think critically. These types of followers are called “effective followers” because they improve a leader. The majority of people fall into the fifth category of followers, who represent the “survivors” group, and they demonstrate the traits of all other four groups.
In conclusion, it is important to point out that both servant leadership and followership leadership focus on service to the other party through proactiveness and empathy. They approach their goals through different perspectives, where the former focuses on a leader and the latter focuses on followers.
B112 Followership and Servant Leadership Fundamentals [PDF document]. (n.d.).
Eva, N., Robin, M., Sendjaya, S., van Dierendonck, D., & Liden, R. C. (2018). Servant leadership: A systematic review and call for future research. The Leadership Quarterly, 30 (1), 111-132. Web.
Cite this paper
- Chicago (N-B)
- Chicago (A-D)
StudyCorgi. (2022, July 18). Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership. https://studycorgi.com/followership-leadership-vs-servant-leadership/
"Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership." StudyCorgi , 18 July 2022, studycorgi.com/followership-leadership-vs-servant-leadership/.
StudyCorgi . (2022) 'Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership'. 18 July.
1. StudyCorgi . "Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership." July 18, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/followership-leadership-vs-servant-leadership/.
Bibliography
StudyCorgi . "Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership." July 18, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/followership-leadership-vs-servant-leadership/.
StudyCorgi . 2022. "Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership." July 18, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/followership-leadership-vs-servant-leadership/.
This paper, “Followership Leadership vs. Servant Leadership”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.
Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: November 11, 2023 .
If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.
ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY
Voice for the army - support for the soldier, lessons in followership: good leaders aren’t always out front.
According to the Army People Strategy, the Army’s center of gravity is its people, and leaders must commit to innovation and thoughtful leadership. As military leaders progress and lead throughout their careers at different levels within the military, they often learn about leadership in professional development courses and on-the-job experiences.
Leaders also learn about management based on their requirements to oversee completion of important workplace projects. However, they may not be provided training on how being a better follower is critical to successful leadership and how to better lead and manage followers. They also may not be accustomed to interacting with a civilian workforce, where the concept of this is different.
Most of their experiences come from leading soldiers, where subordinates are often forced to do tasks using positional power because the leaders outrank them based on paygrade and position.
In order to be a well-rounded leader, military leaders must know how to be better followers and know how to best lead and manage followers. If there are leaders and managers, there must be followers.
To best articulate the dynamics between the leader, manager and follower, let’s define what these words mean, based on their roles and the processes:
- Follower: A person who accepts guidance, command or leadership to assist in achieving goals and accomplishing tasks.
- Manager : A person charged with impersonally enabling task execution or subsets of an organization.
- Leader: Anyone who by virtue of assumed role or assigned responsibility inspires and influences people by providing purpose.
- Followership: A reciprocal process of leadership. This term refers to the capacity or willingness to follow within a team or organization.
- Management: An impersonal functioning process that controls and synchronizes internal structures, processes, procedures and systems.
- Leadership: The activity of influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.
Power and Influence
A follower is a person who accepts guidance, command or leadership to assist in achieving goals and accomplishing tasks. Followership is a reciprocal process of leadership that refers to the willingness to follow within a team or organization. The follower accepts their role in followership based on two types of power from the leader or manager: positional power and personal power. Without power, there is no influence.
Leaders or managers use two types of power: positional power and personal power. Managers use more of the positional power, while leaders use more personal power.
Positional power is based on appointment, office held and hierarchical placement. Usually, managers have this positional power. They get things done based on compliance and resistance. They use expert, referent and information power to apply soft application through ingratiation, peer pressure, personal appeal, inspirational appeal, participation, consultation and coalition.
There is personal power based on charisma, knowledge, experience and performance. Usually, leaders have this personal power. They get things done based on engagement and commitment with the follower. Positional power, on the other hand, is based on legitimate reward information and coercive power that uses hard application through punishment pressure, legitimate requests, imposed stress and direct oversight.
Know Your People
In the Army’s This is My Squad initiative, its major component is found in Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston’s message: We must understand the people around us. In order to be a better follower, individuals must understand and realize the influence and power of their leaders and managers. Being a better follower means being proactive and knowing how and what leaders and managers need to lead. This means anticipating future organizational needs and ensuring you are supporting leaders’ and managers’ support or information requirements. Being a better follower is also a form of so-called servant leadership.
Robert Greenleaf, who coined the term “servant leadership” and is the founder of the modern servant leadership movement and the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, said true leaders are chosen by their followers. Servant leadership is understanding the needs of others, up and down a chain in the organization, being available at the right level and being mentally prepared to serve all others. Servant leaders exist at all levels, but one must be able to follow first. The better a follower can anticipate a need, before it is even asked, the more successful that leader and led relationship remains.
Being a great follower is having appropriate situational awareness of priorities and how to best support those efforts. The follower must be able to collaborate and have the ability to maintain good relationships with others up and down the leadership chain.
Strategist, management consultant, executive coach and international speaker Terina Allen’s November 2018 article in Fast Company , “Want to be a good leader? Learn to follow,” states that followership is a key component to leadership and that followers are not inferior to leaders. The article also notes that we do not give enough credit to those who have excelled in followership. It also states that the best followers make the best leaders because they view others as equals, teach others as humans with similar struggles and shortcomings, and value everyone’s contributions to achieve goals.
Follower to Leader
In the long run, being a better follower will help everyone be better leaders and managers. Individuals can take their experiences as followers to optimize their leadership and managerial roles.
To that end, military leaders must know how to develop followers. The concept of transformational leadership described by leadership and organizational behavior scholar Bernard Bass in 1985 provides insight into how to develop followers. In his book Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectations , Bass outlined the four I’s: idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration and inspirational motivation. The four I’s can be used in developing and empowering followers to also become leaders. Everyone can be improved as a follower, and to optimize having the best followers, organizations must engage in follower development. This is in line with the Army Talent Management initiatives nested in the Army People Strategy.
According to author and researcher Tom Rath and leadership consultant Barry Conchie in their 2009 book, Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow , followers have four basic needs: trust, compassion, stability and hope. There must be a basic level of trust between the leader and the follower, and the best way to build this trust is to be candid even when delivering difficult news. Compassion is based on the leader truly caring for their followers. This requires being genuinely concerned for the well-being of followers and assuming responsibility for them. Stability can be improved by leaders providing a solid foundation and knowing their followers’ core values. This equates to followers feeling secure about their position. Hope is how the leader has the ability to instill enthusiasm about the future for their followers.
Military leaders are often taught how to become better leaders and managers; absent is the discussion about the importance of effective followership and how to be better followers. It is important for leaders to foster a sense of responsibility of how to be a better follower in order to improve the follower’s leadership and management skills as well. Leaders need to self-reflect on how they can improve on being a follower and how they can support their leaders and managers.
The best followers understand how their leader makes decisions, are aware of critical challenges their leader faces and have a complete set of personal leadership skills that enable confident responses to what that leader or organization needs. A critical part of being a good follower is practicing servant leadership. When acting with the intent to serve others, natural followership emerges and further builds the organizational team at every level.
Lt. Col. Amelia Duran-Stanton is chief of the Ready and Resilient Integration Branch and deputy surgeon at Headquarters, U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. She has deployed to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. She holds a doctor of philosophy degree in postsecondary/adult education and a doctor of science degree in physician assistant studies (orthopedics).
Col. Alicia “Ali” Masson is commander of the U.S. Army Environmental Command stationed with Headquarters, U.S. Army Installation Management Command. She has deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Compare and Contrast Followership and Servant Leadership
by Courtney Fraas
The two philosophies, followership and servant leadership, are discussed in the context of soldier development. However, these leadership styles are not exclusive to the army and applicable in business as well. When we compare and contrast followership and servant leadership we can better appreciate the relationship between the styles.
Assess your leadership skills and pinpoint areas where you can improve when you download Bossibly’s Leadership + Influence Assessment . →
Followership
In business, we often hear of leadership and read articles that address leadership style. It is much less often than we hear about followership. Followership is what the Ivey Business Journal has called “the other side of leadership.” It’s a person’s ability to follow the leader, so-to-speak. It’s the ability to take direction, be a team member, and describes their overall willingness to follow a leader. Although there are very few company accolades for superior followership, followers are vital in reaching business objectives. In many cases, people working in an organization will have both a traditional leadership role while also being a follower. They follow the direction of their superior while being a leader to their team members.
Servant Leadership
Coined in 1970 by Robert K. Greenlead, the phrase servant leadership is a leadership philosophy that focuses on how a leader interacts with others, specifically their subordinates. It is unlike many traditional leadership styles. A servant as a leader will focus on putting employee development and needs first. It is an approach that is focused on long term objectives and relationships. In some ways, it’s like a role-reversal. The leader works to serve the employees, rather than the employees serving the leader. A good servant leader is altruistic. Subservant leaders prioritize employee needs and well-being. By doing so, employee performance increases and company objectives are met or exceeded.
Compare and Contrast
When we compare and contrast followership and servant leadership, we can see there are many similarities. Followers and servant leaders both value commitment, servitude, enthusiasm, flexibility, and versatility. There is also a great detail of trust and mutual respect. Followers trust their leader’s guidance and respect their direction, and servant leaders trust their followers’ abilities and respect them as a person. Servant leadership and followership are the same in that both would be willing to jump in and help with a project, regardless of their organizational position. They also appreciate long term relationships and their actions serve to nurture them. A servant leader serves their followers, and followers serve their leader.
The main difference between followership and servant leadership is the amount of responsibility and demand. A servant leader as a manager or superior will often have more job responsibilities than their followers, and more of the organizational success will rest on their shoulders. In addition to serving their team, they have their own targets, tasks, and responsibilities to look after. As Aristotle once said, “He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.” It is difficult to say whether one is better than the other, as they are complimentary. Good servant leaders are guiding followers to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Submit a Comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Blog Topics
Recent blog posts.
Servant Leadership vs. Followership: What Leaders Need To Know
Table of contents.
Many companies are struggling with remote teams and an increasing pull by top performers for fully remote work options due to outdated leadership styles.
Do you aspire to be a leader who influences, empowers, and inspires others to achieve high levels of greatness? To be successful in doing this, you must have the drive to serve others while being insightful to their needs and desires and of course while focused on cash flow and net revenue. If you stay diligent in your mission and implement what is in the guides on this site, you will discover that followers will naturally begin to follow .
Servant leadership approaches and followership have been labeled as two different leadership styles. While they are, they have so many philosophies in common that they are like natural elements to success and perhaps, in need of one another to succeed.
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at both of these concepts, and then you can decide.
Servant Leadership
What is servant leadership.
Servant leadership is considered a newer philosophy of leading, and it truly embodies the method of leading by example. In this style, the servant leader has deep consideration for the people under them and listens to their needs and ideas – both related to their role with the business and them as individuals. This kind of leadership provides more attention to every “corporate cog” in the wheel of the entire company, knowing that every person in every department is essential and add value – often in unexpected ways. This result in employees feeling more valuable and excited about helping the leader and the company reach their desired outcomes.
We all like to feel that we are doing something significant and receive validation for our hard work. Servant leadership focuses on providing that and more for its employees. By using this tactic, a servant leader believes they are helping employees to reach their highest potential.
Origins of Servant Leadership
Even though servant leadership is a buzzword or a recently trending concept for leaders, it has been around for several decades as a term and millennium as a style of leadership.
Robert K. Greenleaf was the founder of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and the servant leader movement. After studying the traditional and ever-so-popular authoritarian leadership style for over forty years, Greenleaf concluded it wasn’t working. He retired from corporate life and started the Center for Applied Ethics, which later became the Greenleaf Center.
In 1970, Greenleaf published The Servant As A Leader. Since his death in 1990, Greenleaf’s teachings have been cited in many other publications as gospel when it comes to gaining loyal and happy employees.
What Is the Role of a Servant Leader?
- Greenleaf says that being a servant is, first and foremost, the key to being a Servant Leader. For who to serve keep reading.
- Make an intentional choice to lead.
- Make sure employees’ needs are being met, which requires understanding both what they verbally express and others.
- Help employees reach their fullest potential.
- Make sure leadership actions benefit all of the employees while helping employees take controlled risks and overcome their fears.
Dimensions of an Effective Servant Leader
A good leader knows how to turn any quality into an advantage in the right situation, but these are the most sought out dimensions of servant leadership.
Effective servant leaders practice empathy with their employees. Everyone has personal issues, and a servant leader knows that it is crucial to be capable of showing genuine compassion towards their employees. It’s no surprise that personal lives can affect a person’s level of success, especially when a person feels overwhelmed or alone in a situation. Plus, there are many highs and lows in every job, and it helps to be aware of these. A great leader will be understanding while reassuring employees of their value and how to add additional value as circumstances change.
Selfless and Attuned to the Needs of Others
A servant leader understands the responsibility and power of selflessness and helping others. Selflessness does not mean passive or able to be run over. It means a shift to an outward focus over an inward one. Bringing solutions and fixing problems is an important trait when being a servant leader. It’s vital to resolve issues before moving on to the next project, and a servant leader does not let issues pile up or allow problems to be swept under the corporate carpet because they know that isn’t going to help them or their team succeed. They understand and cultivate healthy conflict.
Empowerment and Mentorship
Efficient servant leaders uphold the responsibility of being a leader and encourage their employees. They will lead by example when it comes to working effectively. Leaders are reliable in all they do and express core values to their employees in hopes of rallying the team and empowering them to rise up with confidence. An excellent leader will offer ways to improve the business, but as an inspirational mentor, they will also encourage suggestions.
Honesty and Transparency
As a great servant leader, you will understand the importance of honesty and transparency. A leader will be empathetic and encourage employees to have a better work-life balance – to understand that “balance” is a verb and not noun. While doing this, a servant leader knows to be accountable and remain humble to create a thriving work environment. They will also urge employee feedback so an open and truthful working relationship can develop and grow for both.
Communication and Listening Skills
As a servant leader, it is imperative to know how to listen. Allowing employees to feel open to express thoughts and ideas can be crucial to success. Everyone has a strength, but a lousy leader won’t recognize someone else’s strengths or will use it and take credit. A servant leader knows to leave the ego at the door, allowing employees to speak without being interrupted or shamed – and yes, we all have shame triggers to be aware of and navigate. Open communication will inspire more brilliant ideas to generate, which can lead to future growth.
What Do Leaders Need to Know?
Servant leaders should know several factors when choosing to lead this way . Trust-building is a significant factor in this method of leading. This method might not be for every leader, but this way of leadership has been very successful for some major corporations, like Starbucks, Nordstrom, Disney (back in the day), Chick-fil-A, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Aflac, to name a few.
A servant leader needs to know the traits and qualities they possess to be successful at this leading method. We lead with our strengths, being aware of our weaknesses. Leaders must have a sense of a few or all of these traits.
- Emotional Intelligence
- Active Listener
- The Gift of Persuasion
- The Gift of Influence
A servant leader is still aware of the chain of command but uses this leadership style to increase employee development, success, partnerships, loyalty, and productivity.
Not everyone is used to this kind of leadership and may have doubts about the process. Some of the biggest hurdles I’ve had is hiring team leaders that claim to be servant leaders but in fact have only led from authority, keeping themselves at the center of key processes, and/or micromanaging. They’ve often been led by similar leaders and it may take 9 – 18 months for them to find their stride in the new environment – with a lot of coaching along the way. However, servant leaders continue to encourage and lead by example.
Servant leadership has many benefits. Here are just a few to consider.
- Improves both overall growth and net margins.
- Improves productivity.
- Boosts team spirit and loyalty.
- Employees feel valued and thus will contribute more.
- Leaders show empathy in work-life balance, which has a positive outcome in the workplace, especially for hiring.
- Employees will grow and develop within the company, which results in more significant plans for advancement instead of high company turnover.
There are a few cons when it comes to Servant Leadership. Here are some to keep in mind.
- Not many leaders have learned this philosophy through schooling or previous experience, so it may be an adjustment when transitioning into Servant Leadership.
- Since everyone has a voice under this leadership, company decisions might take longer.
- Staff might not be used to this leadership style and have difficulty adapting.
- It requires more transparency and standard operating procedures.
Servant Leadership Examples
There are several philosophies regarding servant leadership and being a great leader. Here are two of the top examples leaders follow.
Abundance Mentality
Abundance Mentality is when leaders remind the employees that there is enough success for everyone. It says that growth and overcoming issues is rarely a resource issue. Believing in this philosophy means that your success is coming or that a different approach needs to be taken.
Creative Tension
Creative Tension is where the leader is more of a voice of reason and a facilitator for their employees. Tensions will happen in the workforce, and a servant leader is still head of command, but they allow employees to debate and hash out issues while keeping things objective before making a final decision.
Followership
Followership is an essential part of teamwork and a similar style of leadership.
What Is Followership?
Followership is the talent to follow a leader enthusiastically and well. It is the ability to take direction well, to complete assigned tasks, to look for ways to make the leaders more successful, to support initiatives, and to be self-motivated. Followership is the flip side of leadership.
Being labeled a “follower” can be a backhanded compliment, but good leadership and high team performance cannot happen without those that believe in and implement followership.
Most outlets discuss leadership, but followership is much more important than people give it credit. Previously, the secret to corporate longevity has been based on followership and growth of its employees to accomplish the work to be done.
Origins of Followership
The origin of followership started back in the 1500s but was later studied by Mary Parker Follett, a Philosopher, and Social Worker, who believed every individual deserved respect and recognition. Many successful companies have built their legacy on the style of followership.
“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” -US Army General George S. Patton, Jr
What Is the Role of a Follower?
The role of a follower is to follow the instructions of a leader and achieve the tasks asked of them. Followers are influential in their work and support team morale. A good follower knows when to speak up or question something when it doesn’t feel right. A faithful follower will have the courage to give accurate feedback.
Followership is critical to accomplishing the goals of the organization and leader. Followership requires holding yourself to a high standard of personal performance to contribute to the overall benefit of the leader and organization. A great follower understand both the value of their role and how it contributes to the success of the organization. The ability of individuals to follow well may be more important to the success of the enterprise than the ability of those in authority to lead well.
Judson Green, former Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions and CFO of the Walt Disney Co, was one of my former leaders and later my mentor. He used to say that the was successful in his career thanks to his ability to hear the needs and instructions from those above him in a way that allowed him to follow them and overdeliver on his leader’s desired outcomes.
I have frequently taken flak for spending time with the front desk staff (when we had offices), the facilities crew, and those newest (and often lower level) employees, but are these people not critical to the success of the organization. At Vitrue, a woman named Laura not only ran our front desk, break rooms, and so much more but did so tirelessly and in a way that took so much off our plate as leaders. Her ability to and desire to follow well gave us confidence that things would taken care of allowing others to fulfill their individual roles.
When you have good leaders, you have a natural feeling of wanting to support them in accomplishing their goals.
Qualities of an Effective Follower
An effective follower can have many qualities, but these are the most sought after.
Teamwork is essential to followership, but as a follower, you must also be able to show independence when it comes to completing tasks. A good follower can use their skills to predict what is next after receiving a job and solid advice from a leader. This includes identifying areas they need to grow and doing the work to learn those new skills ahead of time.
Responsibility and Self-Management
A follower knows how to handle responsibility. They do not need their hands held to get the job done. They also are expected to check their egos at the door. Doing a well-done job is what’s best for the company, and a follower doesn’t always get validation when it comes to completing the task at hand.
Work ethic is an important quality to have when doing a good job, and followers should have an excellent work ethic. It always helps a project when the leader and employees are excited about the job, so followers will dig in and commit to the task at hand.
There are several things a follower can do to show how serious they are about their work ethic.
- Remove all distractions when working.
- Ask for input from team members on how to improve on a project.
- Prioritize the tasks by importance and time.
- Find focus and motivation.
- Learn proper time management.
Teamwork is how a job gets done correctly. In followership, teamwork is a skill that will help motivate and inspire others. Keeping up morale will help properly execute projects while allowing members to take on objectives with a positive mindset. Followers know they are not an island and will be there for one another when someone needs help.
In both Antecedents of team potency and team effectiveness: An examination of goal and process clarity and servant leadership and Antecedents and consequences of team potency in software development projects , they found the behavior in organizations that led to psychological empowerment, consideration of personal values, and that understand that work is a social exchange had positive correlations with better organizational success.
Time Management
Time management is part of a proper work ethic for a follower. Being aware of time and how long a task can take is essential when executing a project. It is a conscious choice to make sure you are using your time effectively for the company that is paying for it. Deadlines are in place for a reason. However, things and life can happen, so a follower must be able to communicate with a leader on accurate expectations while remaining a reliable resource for the leader.
Flexibility and Adaptability
As society tries to force everyone into boxes, a follower understands that being flexible and adaptable is an important skill. Being able to jump in with any task and give a helping hand is a remarkable talent. Leaders can depend on followers that can step up, and having this skill, will encourage team members to take greater risks on better projects. One of my favorite traits to look for in people is their willingness to say “can I help you with that”?
Reasoning and Critical Thinking
Critical thinking and reasoning can promote better judgment in followers and team members. Being able to give critical input to leaders and team members will help build better projects, better communication, and better judgment along the way to ensure success.
What Do Followers Need to Know?
When working with a followership style mentality, leaders must create an engaging and inspirational environment for followers. Followers should know and understand company projects through all elements, including knowing what the project is, why it is important (e.g. desired outcomes), and how it should be completed.
Many successful companies are based on the followership style, which includes the longest-running US company known as our military. Anyone that has served in or around the Army, Marines, etc. is trained in the benefits and traits of followership. Increasingly, military leaders know that positional power and coercive power are not legitimate power and are not the best ways to increase team effectiveness.
Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way. -US Army General George S. Patton, Jr
Army Leaders specifically are teaching that the power pyramid and positional power are critical but are greatly enhances with leaders that are fluent in other types of power.
As the son of an Air Force veteran, I remember hearing about the need to “lead myself well” and “follow those in leadership” from the earliest ages.
Business leaders are learning what any that has served as a platoon leader knows: there is formal power and informal power. The power in organizations comes from agile leaders that are able to focus personal power on the task at hand and a bold mission. Modern-day companies include Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple.
There are several pros when it comes to the followership theory.
- Agile leaders are able to use formal power and informal power to better manage remote teams.
- Less stress within the work environment.
- The organization/company can achieve its strategy faster.
- Less effort to accomplish a task since team members help each other complete projects.
- Learning to trust yourself and your ideas.
- Being able to clock out.
There are also a few cons that come along with followership.
- Rely on others to make the big decisions.
- Don’t always get credit for everything you do.
- People that do not understand leadership and followership may make negative comments.
Followership Examples
There are several philosophies and active behaviors for Followership . Here are two major traits when being a great follower.
Spreading Enthusiasm
Spreading enthusiasm in the office and to co-workers is an imperative behavior of all followers. It keeps up morale while spreading a good mindset. Attitudes can be contagious, so keeping up a good attitude can be one of the most important jobs of the day.
Take Initiative
A great follower knows when to take the initiative. Use the opportunity to take charge of a task when you can foresee the direction it should go when the project hits a wall or a speed bump. A follower knows when to use this skill to enhance a project for everyone involved.
Servant Leadership vs. Followership: How Do They Compare?
Servant leadership and followership styles have many things in common, yet they have their differences.
Meaning and Role
It has been said that all leaders must follow, but not all followers are destined to lead. Both styles of leadership have their roles and their purpose. Only when combined can a larger organization see the hypergrowth possible with authentic leadership.
Qualities Needed to Succeed
As you know by now, servant leadership is when a leader is a servant first but also knows the importance of success for themselves, the company, and the team. Servant leaders want their team to grow and achieve excellence.
Followership is more of a pyramid structure, and each level helps create success for their peers and those above them. Followers are encouraged to take the initiative but are also expected to vigorously implement the leader and company’s plan.
Example of Servant Leadership & Followership
A servant leader will overlook their own needs in the moment, so they can help a team member reach their highest potential.
On the other hand, a follower is charged with tasks and given the freedom to make it work to reach the organizational goals. In my experience, excellent followership requires follower empowerment to unlock the power in organizations.
How Are Servant Leadership and Followership Interlinked?
In a perfect world, servant leadership and followership work well in tandem. Although some companies find these to be two very different styles of leading, servant leadership methods ensure that great leaders can only be excellent at what they do when they have wonderful followership. In return, followers can work more diligently when they feel understood and appreciated, as well as have room for growth within a work-life balance.
The benefits and tactics to cultivate both high-achieving servant leadership and followership has increasingly been the topic people bring me in as a keynote speaker or podcast guest . I both love this topic and seeing the results in companies that embrace the combination.
Time and time again, as I’ve been brought into companies, I’ve seen the convergent validity confirm that servant leadership theory and followership are in fact related. In the future, I hope to release future studies and lists articles documenting the effects when business leaders, individual teams, and an entire larger organization embrace both of these.
Many leaders in the corporate world are finally grasping that servant leadership methods can create a culture and work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. This may be the only style that truly works with remote teams, whether fully remote teams or those with only some remote team members.
Leaders who are that open to the concept will empower their employees to take responsibility, effectively follow, share diverse opinions, and reach achievement levels not otherwise attainable. Servant leadership reminds followers that there is enough success to go around for everyone and that the best way to reach outcomes is to support their leader – or find a new role.
If you’d like to learn more about transforming your leadership style and company culture, check out this podcast , where I share some helpful tips.
Leave a Reply
Leave a reply cancel reply, keep in touch, hire to speak, read kurt’s story, join the journey.
Enter your email address to subscribe to Kurt\'s blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Let\'s do this together!
Email Address
Followership and Servant-Leadership: Companions in an Endless Relationship
- First Online: 02 September 2023
Cite this chapter
- Robert J. Cruz 6 &
- Kathleen Patterson 7
Part of the book series: Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business ((CFPLB))
111 Accesses
Followership and leadership are a symbiotic relationship—one cannot exist without the other. This presentation looks at servant-leadership and its companion servant followership under the lens of Robert K. Greenleaf’s work which was ripe with followership content; in fact, he provided the test for servant-leaders which is all about followership—do followers grow, develop, and become servants. To note Greenleaf’s test is follower-focused and does not ask if followers become leaders but rather asks if followers become servants. As with any theoretical or model development, this chapter will unpack servant-leadership and the logical extension servant followership, showing how followership is a key component in understanding the nuance of how leaders serve, followers serve, and how we inevitably seek a better world in the making, together.
Version of the Bible: New King James Version and English Standard Version
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Subscribe and save.
- Get 10 units per month
- Download Article/Chapter or eBook
- 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
- Cancel anytime
- Available as PDF
- Read on any device
- Instant download
- Own it forever
- Available as EPUB and PDF
- Compact, lightweight edition
- Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
- Free shipping worldwide - see info
- Durable hardcover edition
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Institutional subscriptions
Similar content being viewed by others
“Follow Me!”: The Story of Followership Through the Eyes of the Apostle Peter
Apostle jude: jesus said, “follow me”—the power of followership, come, see, do: igniting the spark that energizes followers.
Bass, B. M., & Bass, R. (2008). The Bass handbook of leadership: Theory, research, and managerial applications (4th ed.). Free Press.
Google Scholar
Chaleff, I. (1997). Learn the art of followership. Government Executive, 29 (2), 51.
Covey, S. R. (2001). Forward. In R. K. Greenleaf (Ed.), Servant leadership: A journey in the nature of legitimate power and greatness (25th ed., pp. 1–13). Paulist Press.
Fairholm, G. W. (2001). Mastering inner leadership . Greeenwood Publishing Group.
Finegan, T. (2021). Amplifiers: How great leaders magnify the power of teams, increase the impact of organizations, and turn up the volume on positive change . Wiley.
Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant leadership: A journey in the nature of legitimate power and greatness (25th ed.). Paulist Press.
Greenleaf, R. K. (2008). The servant as leader . Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership.
Nouwen, H. (1989). In the name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian leadership . The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Patterson, K. A. (2003). Servant leadership: A theoretical model . Doctoral Dissertation, Regent University. UMI No. 3082719.
Spears, L. C. (2005, August). The understanding and practice of servant-leadership. Servant Leadership Research Roundtable (pp. 1–8). School of Leadership Studies, Regent University, VA.
Stone, A. G., & Patterson, K. (2022). The History of leadership focus: Servant leadership’s coming of age. In S. Dhiman & G. Roberts (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of servant leadership . Palgrave Macmillan.
Stone, A. G., Russell, R. F., & Patterson, K. (2004). Transformational versus servant leadership: A difference in leader focus. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 25 (4), 349–361.
Article Google Scholar
Trinca, W. (2007). The inner being, the self and the psychic disorders. Psicologia: Teor e Prática, 9 (1), 42–60.
Winston, B. E. (1999). Be a manager for God’s sake: Essays about the perfect manager . Regent University School of Business Press.
Winston, B. E. (2003). Extending Patterson’s servant-leadership model: Explaining how leaders and followers interact in a circular model . Regent University Servant Leadership Roundtable. Regent University.
Download references
Author information
Authors and affiliations.
Deland, FL, USA
Robert J. Cruz
School of Business and Leadership, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Kathleen Patterson
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Robert J. Cruz .
Editor information
Editors and affiliations.
Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Bruce E. Winston
Rights and permissions
Reprints and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cruz, R.J., Patterson, K. (2023). Followership and Servant-Leadership: Companions in an Endless Relationship. In: Patterson, K., Winston, B.E. (eds) The Nature of Biblical Followership, Volume 1. Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37085-4_1
Download citation
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37085-4_1
Published : 02 September 2023
Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN : 978-3-031-37084-7
Online ISBN : 978-3-031-37085-4
eBook Packages : Business and Management Business and Management (R0)
Share this chapter
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative
- Publish with us
Policies and ethics
- Find a journal
- Track your research
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
CPL Gurczynski. is essay is t. compare and contrast servant leadership andfollowership. W. will define each. and cover the shared traits, values, andresponsibilities. Discuss th. role of followers and how it differs from that of servant. leaders while covering the expectation of a servant leader. The Civil Air Patrol defines followership as ...
Key Differences between Servant Leadership and Followership. Focus: While servant leadership places an emphasis on serving others and putting their needs first, followership focuses on supporting and executing the leader's vision. Position: A servant leader is usually in a position of authority and uses their power to serve others, while a ...
Followership and servant leadership go hand in hand when creating a successful and cohesive environment. While followership and servant leadership share many ideologies, they require balance to exist. This essay about followership vs. servant leadership and the BLC (Basic Leader Course) showcases this balance.
In sum, followership and servant leadership compare and contrast within the context of the Basic Leader Course illuminates the complexities and complementary nature of these leadership models. As emerging leaders venture through their developmental journey, embracing the lessons of followership and servant leadership becomes paramount.
This essay explores the similarities and differences between servant leadership and followership, two concepts that are essential for effective group work. It defines the traits and goals of each style, and provides examples and references to support its arguments.
Leadership is a multifaceted concept that encompasses a range of roles and approaches, each contributing to the overall success of a team or organization. This essay conducts a comparative analysis of followership and servant leadership, examining their distinct characteristics, similarities, and differences, and highlighting the importance of synergy between these two dynamics in fostering ...
The follower-leader relationship is a mutually influential process in which the follower is an active participant. Followership complements leadership (Collinson, 2006).Greenleaf believed that servants as followers are just as important as servant-leaders.Servant leadership is one of the few follower-focused leadership theories.
(2011) believed that servant leadership's attractiveness is its focus on serv-ing others. Servant leadership is an emerging leadership style. The popularity of servant leadership shows the shift to a more positive, value-based leader-ship style to deal with turbulent environments and changing demograph-ics within the workplace.
Followership, as posited by the Civil Air Patrol, encompasses the pursuit of specific goals while upholding respect for authority, fostering a positive attitude, demonstrating integrity, and exercising self-discipline. Conversely, servant leadership, as articulated by Robert K. Greenleaf, epitomizes a paradigm wherein leaders prioritize serving ...
Practitioners as well as scholars will benefit from reading this collection of essays and applying this new knowledge to uplift organizations." (Dorianne Cotter-Lockard, PhD, Institute for Social Innovation, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA and Editor of Authentic Leadership and Followership) "In Servant Leadership and ...
Servant leadership is one of many approaches to leader development. The term servant leadership has been in use since Dr. Robert Greenleaf wrote the essay, "The Servant as Leader," in 1970, which focuses on the areas of ethics and ethical leadership. The idea of the servant leader can be traced back even further—more than 2000 years—to ...
download Download PDF. Comparing Followership with Servant Leadership by G. David Rath, Ph.D. fComparing Followership with Leadership 2 Introduction Plato, Aristotle, Lao Zi and Confucius all discussed the nature of leadership and how one becomes a leader.
The term 'followership' refers to the ability of the followers to be active team members, take required direction, and show their commitment towards the management. In other words, the juniors are capable of executing the assigned responsibilities as stated by the leader. On the other hand, servant leadership is a headship style that ...
The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast followership and servant leadership fundamentals, perceiving the two as leadership concepts. Each concept will be defined in this case, and the shared responsibilities, values, and traits will be explored. ... and traits will be explored. In addition, the essay will discuss the role of ...
The primary difference between servant leadership and followership leadership style is in the fact that the former focuses on leader attributes and the latter focuses on a follower attributes. Therefore, these frameworks approach the idea of leadership from different perspectives. In servant leadership, a leader plays a central role in ensuring ...
Followership is a reciprocal process of leadership that refers to the willingness to follow within a team or organization. The follower accepts their role in followership based on two types of power from the leader or manager: positional power and personal power. Without power, there is no influence. Leaders or managers use two types of power ...
It is also true that dissent is an important element of followership and leadership. But the ethics of followership can only be understood if the 'direction of support' is recognised (leaders care for the led) and accepted by nominal leaders and nominal followers. Followership should not be a taboo f-word.
When we compare and contrast followership and servant leadership, we can see there are many similarities. Followers and servant leaders both value commitment, servitude, enthusiasm, flexibility, and versatility. There is also a great detail of trust and mutual respect. Followers trust their leader's guidance and respect their direction, and ...
When working with a followership style mentality, leaders must create an engaging and inspirational environment for followers. Followers should know and understand company projects through all elements, including knowing what the project is, why it is important (e.g. desired outcomes), and how it should be completed.
In particular, the term servant leadership was coined by Greenleaf in 1970 in his essay "The Servant as Leader" to describe an emerging style of leadership where leaders focused on followers' personal growth and development, by treating them in an ethical way. The author asserted that the servant leader is "primus inter pares" or ...
Ling Q, Liu F, Wu X (2017) Servant versus authentic leadership. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly 58(1): 53-68. Crossref. Web of Science. Google Scholar. Lopez SJ (2009) The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. ... Christian Servant Followership Principles and Employee Development. Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar.
Followership and leadership are a symbiotic relationship—one cannot exist without the other. This presentation looks at servant-leadership and its companion servant followership under the lens of Robert K. Greenleaf's work which was ripe with followership content; in fact, he provided the test for servant-leaders which is all about followership—do followers grow, develop, and become ...
"Servant leadership is a watchword for how these Soldiers should serve as NCOs in the Army," said Krog. "Every action they take as an NCO should either be taking care of their Soldiers or ...