EIGHT

Authentic Followership

FOLLOWERS ARE THE OTHER SIDE of the leadership equation. Without them, there is no relationship and no leadership. If leadership is a dynamic relationship, and the appropriate balance of closeness and distance keeps changing to fit new circumstances, it is logical that followers, too, live in the same dynamic relationship, but see things from a different perspective.

If the leaders get the balance right, followers feel comfortable. They are glad to be close to their leader; they feel that their individuality is recognized and that they are part of a team. The leader has shown enough of himself that the followers know he is not perfect, and that has two results. First, it gives them permission to be less than perfect ...

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