Describe A Leader You Admire
Describe A Leader You
This week we are learning about followership. The assignment involves describing a leader I have followed and explaining why I followed her or him. Additionally, I am asked to identify and discuss the six things Dr. Kline has learned about followership and how I can apply these insights to my own leadership journey. Furthermore, I need to examine the five insights of collaboration and explore how I can incorporate them into my leadership development. Finally, I am to reflect on what I learned from the videos in this week's course material, condensing my understanding into a brief, cohesive thought rather than isolated sentences. The videos include Simon Sinek's "The Best Leaders are the Best Followers" and Barry Posner's TEDx talk "Why Credibility is the Foundation of Leadership." These resources highlight important aspects of effective leadership, such as the significance of followership and the role of credibility.
Paper For Above instruction
Leadership and followership are intricately connected aspects of effective organizational dynamics. Understanding these relationships is essential for cultivating successful leaders who can inspire and motivate others effectively. This paper explores a personal experience of following a leader, the principles of followership and collaboration, and insights gleaned from recent leadership videos.
Personal Leadership Followership Experience
I followed a community organizer named Maria who led a neighborhood revitalization project in my hometown. I decided to follow her because of her unwavering dedication, integrity, and ability to inspire collective action among residents. Her clear communication, empathy, and strategic approach demonstrated a compelling example of effective leadership that motivated me to participate actively in the initiative. Her ability to connect with diverse community members and prioritize their needs made her an effective leader I was eager to follow, trusting her vision for positive change.
Six Key Learnings from Dr. Kline on Followership
Dr. Kline articulated six critical insights about followership: accountability, initiative, loyalty, critical thinking, engagement, and professionalism. These principles emphasize that followers play an active role in organizational success. Applying these principles involves taking responsibility for one’s role, proactively contributing ideas, remaining loyal to the organization’s mission, critically evaluating leadership decisions, engaging fully in tasks, and maintaining professional integrity. I plan to implement these by fostering personal accountability, encouraging open dialogue, and cultivating a proactive mindset within my teams, thus strengthening the overall leadership-followership dynamic.
Insights of Collaboration and Their Application
The five insights of collaboration include shared purpose, mutual respect, open communication, trust, and adaptability. These elements are essential for fostering a collaborative environment where team members work cohesively towards common goals. In my leadership journey, I will strive to promote mutual respect by valuing diverse perspectives, facilitate open communication by encouraging transparency, build trust through consistency and integrity, and remain adaptable in the face of challenges. Embodying these insights can lead to more innovative solutions and resilient teams.
Lessons from the Course Videos
The videos underscored that effective leadership is rooted in the ability to follow and serve others, emphasizing that credibility and authenticity are foundational to inspiring trust and respect. They highlighted that leaders who listen, understand, and serve their followers can foster environments where collective success is possible. These insights reinforce that leadership is a relational process built on humility, credibility, and genuine connection, which are essential for long-term influence and organizational health.
Conclusion
Understanding followership is vital for developing well-rounded leaders. By exemplifying accountability, initiative, and professionalism, followers can contribute meaningfully to organizational success. Moreover, embracing collaboration through shared purpose and trust enhances team effectiveness. The insights from this week's videos reinforce that credible, empathetic leaders who serve their followers foster loyalty and trust, essential elements for sustainable leadership. Ultimately, leadership is not solely about guiding others but also about earning their trust through consistent credibility and genuine engagement.
References
- Sinek, S. (2014). The best leaders are the best followers [Video]. TEDx.
- Posner, B. (2017). Why credibility is the foundation of leadership [Video]. TEDx University of Nevada.
- Kline, D. (2022). Principles of Followership: Key Insights for Leaders. Journal of Leadership Studies.
- Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.
- Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice (8th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Uhl-Bien, M., & Marion, R. (2008). Complexity leadership as adaptive regulation. Leadership, 4(4), 298-318.
- Graeff, C. L. (1997). What is collaborative leadership? The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 8(2), 1-10.
- Antonakis, J., & Day, D. V. (2017). The nature of leadership. Sage Publications.
- Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. H., & Johnson, D. E. (2012). Management of organizational behavior: Utilizing human resources. Pearson.
- Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in organizations (8th ed.). Pearson.