Before starting this class I just got into followership and it's importance to leading. The idea was foreign to me until I experienced it being an Orientation leader. Being in a group of outstanding leaders means some will have to stop and follow or else it would just be a shouting match of who is the "best leader." When Lieutenant Colonel Decker Hains came to speak to our class I asked him about the difficulties of having such dominant leadership in the ROTC and how it affected them. I remember him bringing up followership and expressing how leadership does not mean the one leading the group, but also the guy in the back or the middle cooperating and leading from their position. .
Followership in my eyes is the ability to take direction well. Being the flip side of leadership it is not looked upon often, but to have to ability to follow can and will essentially help you grow as a leader. To succeed in a group environment it is important to deliver what is expected of you. In a sense, you have to be both a leader and a follower. Judging when to step up and when to sit back is key to being a good follower. With this you are allowing others to have a chance to speak their mind and learning from what they believe while also giving yourself a voice. .
Learning Leadership From Those More Experienced .
It is one thing to learn new information in class but to see it being applied in real life situations from leaders more experienced and more knowledgeable than us was transforming. I learned a lot from my book, to my leader project and the leaders who came in to speak to us. One thing I found interesting during this semester was the different types of leadership shown. In Bobby Hopewell, for instance, he was a very relaxed leader who was content with where he was. He didn't want to move up or down in his position, which I thought was different than the typically leader I think of. .
I learned a lot from your leadership qualities as well.