September 5, 2025 l Manila Times
For many years, we’ve been told to aim high, lead boldly and commandeer our own destiny — to be the boss of ourselves, to take center stage.
But here’s a reality check: Not everyone can — or should — lead and hardly anyone speaks about the importance of being a great follower.
This was the insight of Robert Kelley, a professor at Carnegie Mellon. In a pivotal Harvard Business Review essay from the 1980s, he argued that the traits we praise in leaders — critical thinking, accountability, engagement — are the same traits that make a follower truly effective.
His point? The most influential people in any organization aren’t always wearing the leader title.
Ira Chaleff extended that philosophy further in his book “The Courageous Follower.” He cast followers neither as passive nor powerless, but as partners — willing to support a leader and also bold enough to call them out when the mission goes off-course.
These partners are capable, courageous and morally engaged. In Chaleff’s framework, to follow is to serve and to challenge; it’s about speaking up respectfully.
Let’s face it, many leaders say they want feedback and innovation, yet when someone actually speaks or steps up, they get labeled “disruptive,” “a problem” or “threatening.”
Over time, followers pick up on an unspoken rule — keep quiet, comply or risk getting sidelined. That’s when creativity dies, and disruption rots into routine.
People learn fast — keep your head down, agree or get sidelined. Innovation dies quietly.
The controversy over Philippine flood control projects is a good example. Under the present and past administrations, billions in public funds were poured into infrastructure projects intended to mitigate flooding — from Metro Manila to Central Luzon.
But then came reports of “ghost projects,” cornered contracts for favored builders, massive corruption and subpar execution. Despite warning signs and red flags, these raising concerns were sidelined or ignored, and irregularities went unchecked for far too long.
This dynamic reinforces how bad leadership breeds poor followership. When those in power safeguard their cronies and suppress dissent, followers — regardless of their competence — learn that the safest path is blind obedience or silent resignation.
Another vivid contemporary case is Elon Musk. Once a staunch Trump ally and major political donor, Musk publicly sparred with Trump, using his platform X to attack him.
In response, conservative allies, including Vice President JD Vance, pushed Musk to retreat — calling any attempt to challenge the GOP establishment or start a third political party a “huge mistake.”
Behind the scenes, Musk reportedly paused plans for a new “America Party” to preserve ties with key Republicans.
What do we learn from this? Musk may enjoy invoking boldness, but many of his allies still expect — and reward — submissiveness. Despite collecting hundreds of millions in donations, producing viral posts and wielding unparalleled influence, he’s incentivized to fall in line.
When power demands conformity, followers learn to self-censor or withdraw just to survive.
Or think of Enron, where leadership set a toxic tone. Executives demanded financial results at any cost, fostering a corporate culture where ethical voice was crushed.
Followers became complicit or silent — either out of fear or ambition — uniquely illustrating how bad leadership breeds bad followership.
Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be the norm. Good leaders create environments where followers can engage honestly and courageously. Leaders who build trust and encourage feedback create better outcomes.
Following well isn’t about servility. It’s about critical engagement, loyal but discerning support and ethical alignment.
Followership isn’t weakness — it’s a sort of leadership from below. It’s owning your place in the bigger story, even without a title.
Great followers are intelligent, independent and responsible.
Characteristics
What are the characteristics of a good follower? Here are a few guideposts:
1) Think critically — go beyond “just do what you’re told”; understand the mission.
2) Engage actively — escape the traps of complacency; bring ideas forward.
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3) Speak with courage — push back when needed, always respectfully and constructively.
4) Align with values, not just personalities. Focus on principles.
5) Build trust, not subservience. Healthy followership demands integrity from both sides.
We look up to leaders, but followers are the true backbone of progress. We must flip the narrative. Poor leadership doesn’t excuse poor followership — it demands stronger, more principled followership.
Where leaders fail, followers must still choose integrity, engagement and sometimes dissent.
Here’s the pivot: If we want better outcomes — whether in business, politics or new ventures — we must invest in strengthening followership as much as leadership. Because every great idea gains traction only when courageous followers turn it into a movement.
***The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. For comments, email benel_dba@yahoo.com. Photo is from Pinterest.