Followership in Education: How Competent Followers Develop Effective Leaders
Summary
Followership in itself is not a new concept. Virtually every individual spends more time in the role of follower than leader and there have been both effective leaders and followers throughout the course of history. Currently, followership as a construct for examination is relatively fresh, especially in education. In many cases, leading and following roles occur simultaneously, since most of us have a supervisor or a higher person who evaluates our work. The importance of following is rarely highlighted and certainly under-studied. In fact, this focus on leaders is at the expense of followers, fostering the belief that followers are less important (Kellerman, 2008).
Literature surrounding followership currently is found in the military and large business structures, and research conducted associated with followership exists. Comparatively, followership research in educational structures is scant with a most of the available research focused on higher education and post-secondary settings (Taylor & Hill, 2017). As schools are comprised of teachers and administrators in the roles of followers and leaders, understanding the leadership-followership dynamic provides opportunities for improving collaboration and school climate.
Literature on leadership training is its own profitable industry (Kellerman, 2008; Ready & Conger, 2003). Recently, there have been several books published that address followership as part of the discussion on leadership (see Kellerman, 2008; Schindler, 2014). This includes the practices of following established rules, implementing policy, engaging in personal and professional development, complying with instructions, and supervising or being supervised by others. As followership applies to K-12 teachers, the role of follower is in addition to teaching students daily. In examining how individuals become leaders, it is important to study the origins of leadership which lie in the practices of good followership, particularly related to education and the educational outcomes for students. It is the goal of the presenters to highlight the importance of effective and competent followers in their organizations.
Followership in Education: How Competent Followers Develop Effective Leaders
Followership in itself is not a new concept. Virtually every individual spends more time in the role of follower than leader and there have been both effective leaders and followers throughout the course of history. Currently, followership as a construct for examination is relatively fresh, especially in education. In many cases, leading and following roles occur simultaneously, since most of us have a supervisor or a higher person who evaluates our work. The importance of following is rarely highlighted and certainly under-studied. In fact, this focus on leaders is at the expense of followers, fostering the belief that followers are less important (Kellerman, 2008).
Literature surrounding followership currently is found in the military and large business structures, and research conducted associated with followership exists. Comparatively, followership research in educational structures is scant with a most of the available research focused on higher education and post-secondary settings (Taylor & Hill, 2017). As schools are comprised of teachers and administrators in the roles of followers and leaders, understanding the leadership-followership dynamic provides opportunities for improving collaboration and school climate.
Literature on leadership training is its own profitable industry (Kellerman, 2008; Ready & Conger, 2003). Recently, there have been several books published that address followership as part of the discussion on leadership (see Kellerman, 2008; Schindler, 2014). This includes the practices of following established rules, implementing policy, engaging in personal and professional development, complying with instructions, and supervising or being supervised by others. As followership applies to K-12 teachers, the role of follower is in addition to teaching students daily. In examining how individuals become leaders, it is important to study the origins of leadership which lie in the practices of good followership, particularly related to education and the educational outcomes for students. It is the goal of the presenters to highlight the importance of effective and competent followers in their organizations.
