This document discusses the qualities of good followers. It argues that good followers learn from their leaders, contribute in areas where the leader needs support, and have an independent mindset. Good followers buy into the leader's vision but provide constructive feedback. They avoid seeking the limelight and remain humble. Ultimately, good followers continue following higher goals and ideals even after becoming leaders themselves.

1. WELCOME
Presented by:
Mukund Kulkarni
PG16ARG8008
Dept of Agril.Economics

2. TOPIC:
WHERE ARE THE GOOD FOLLOWERS?

4. WITHOUT THEM, THE GRANDEST STRATEGY A LEADER MAY COME UP
WITH, WILL AMOUNT TO NOTHING
 Leading well is essentially about following well. “He who
cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader” —
this popular saying is attributed to Aristotle.
 There are many variations of this statement. But, sadly,
it still remains a less-followed principle. Top
management often bypasses this quality while hiring
people to positions of authority.
 Often, there is nary an effort to find out how good a
follower a potential hire was, especially at the dawn of
his career. That takes us to the question: How do you
spot a good follower?

5. THEY LEARN FROM THEIR LEADERS
 In most hiring processes, one question would be
missing. That is: What did you learn from your
previous bosses? The answer to that open-ended
question would give a clue to what a company
could expect if it hired this candidate.
 Good followers invariably seek to learn from their
superiors, focusing on their positive qualities. Those
following international cricket in the last three
decades would be aware of the role Imran Khan
played in shaping the career of Wasim Akram.

6.  Credit should go to Akram in equal measure for
allowing himself to be mentored by Imran.
 In many an interview — a few of them available on
YouTube — Akram has acknowledged Imran’s
influence. That’s the hallmark of a great follower.

8. THEY CONTRIBUTE IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A NEED
 Good followers complete their leader by voluntarily
assuming responsibilities in areas where he is not
yet fully evolved.
 “If the leader has difficulty keeping his cool in the
face of shoddy work, a good follower may play the
coach, patiently teaching others the essentials of
the job. By doing so, the follower is serving the
interests of the team,” says Prem K. Thomas, Chief
Human Resource Manager, Blue Dart Aviation
Limited.

9.  There is an element of altruism attached to their
style of functioning. They take up responsibilities,
sometimes stepping out of their comfort zone, and
they do this even if they know going the extra mile
would not bring any additional rewards.
 “When they find efficient followers, good leaders
give them the necessary space to function
optimally. When a follower’s ability is just a notch
below yours, you just give strategic inputs and step
out of the way,” says Naresh Purushotham, co-
founder of Crestcom India.

10. THEY HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN
 Good followers play supportive and corrective roles,
as the situation demands.
 The play a supportive role because they
understand the leader’s vision.
 “Good followers understand the vision of the leader,
buy into the vision and find a way of executing the
vision,” says Naresh Purushotham. They share the
leader’s vision across the team with an almost
missionary spirit, but when they see the leader
make an error of judgement, they point it out to him
boldly.

11.  “If you thought a good follower always toed the leader’s
line, think again. He is as efficient and powerful as the
leader and is assertive, his actions being guided by what is
best for the leader and the team. Good leaders realise the
value such original thinking brings to the team and
encourage it,” says Prem K. Thomas.
 In the much-discussed ‘first follower theory’, American
entrepreneur Derek Sivers places the first follower on par
with the leader.
 It is the first follower who can turn a simple but original idea
into an epochal one, around which people would rally
around. It takes initiative, courage, a willingness to face
ridicule, intelligence and charisma to be able to package
the leader’s vision for a larger group.

13. THEY STAY IN THE SHADOWS
 Often, great followers stood out from others by staying
away from the limelight. “It is not lack of ambition, but an
attitude of humility. So, it follows naturally that good
followers will make good leaders, as they would be
prepared to give credit to those it is due,” says Prem K.
Thomas. And, being a good follower who shuns the
limelight will ensure that the spotlight finds him at the
right time.
 Sooner or later, being a good follower consistently will
ensure the right leader comes along and offers to share
the limelight with him. “Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said he
imbibed all his leadership qualities from Prof. Satish
Dhawan.

14.  Here was a case of a good follower finding a good
leader. Now, everyone is aware of the famous press
conference following the failed satellite launch in
1979. Prof. Dhawan was the chairman of ISRO and
Dr. Kalam, the project director of the mission. At the
conference, Prof. Dhawan took all the blame for the
debacle.
 A year later, when Rohini RS-1 was launched
successfully, Prof. Dhawan asked Dr. Kalam and
the team to address the press conference and
walked away for the limelight,” says Naresh
Purushotham.

15. THEY STAY ‘FOLLOWERS’ FOR EVER
 Effective leadership is following a rare star, a larger
goal, a grand vision or a noble ideal. Good
followers don’t cease to be followers once they
have been elevated to positions of leadership.
 They will always find something larger than
themselves to follow, so that they keep growing,
don’t become opinionated and are rooted to the
realities of their situation. They invariably look for
those who could mentor them.

16. THANK YOU
Submitted to
Dr.Basavaraj Hulagur
Asst.Prof. Dept. of
Agril.Extention Education