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You're a future leader if you do these 4 things as a follower

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Everyone wants to be a leader. You get to call the shots. Flickr/Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design

Everyone wants to be a leader. You get to call the shots. You get the most credit when things go well. You are important because, well, you’re the boss.

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Yet few understand that to be a good leader, you first need to be a great follower. As Aristotle said, “He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.”

Every military general started out as a private. And you can bet he was a pretty good private.

Being a good follower isn’t about being of one of hundreds of lemmings that execute instructions unthinkingly with blind loyalty.

Today’s followers are more evolved. They judiciously choose who they follow and make their followership their education. In an increasingly democratized workplace, where social media commands growing influence, followers are more empowered than ever. 

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Robert Kelley, the author of ‘The Power of Followership”, uses research to show that leadership affects an organization’s success or failure by only 20%. If followers influence their organization’s effectiveness by as much as 80%, it’s not an overstatement to say that good followers matter as much as good leaders.

What makes a great follower? Here are four ways to separate yourself from the pack and prepare for future leadership.

1. You’re not a follower — you’re a leader-in-training

The best followers don’t see themselves as another cog in the corporate machinery. They know what they’re doing. They know what their peers are doing. They even know what their leaders are doing.

They know because they want to know. They want to know because leaders are supposed to know more than everyone else.

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That’s right, leaders. Not followers.

The best followers aren’t really followers. They see themselves as future leaders. And they have already started their own personal leadership journey. They happen to be self-leaders who follow. For now.

You don’t need a job title that starts with “Chief” to be a leader in your capacity. You’re the CEO, COO, CIO and C-Whatever-O of your career. 

To lead from whatever position you are in, do what any good leader would do — lead by example. Set high standards with your work. Demonstrate impeccable work ethics. Persevere through times of adversity. Build win-win relationships. Encourage and inspire others with your positivity.

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What you may lack now in positional power isn’t as important as the personal power you can build up when you hold yourself to a leadership standard. 

How this helps you as a future leader:

Many executives are promoted to a leadership role for being great at their previous position— which may not include managing people. They usually struggle at being an effective leader. 

If you are a non-positional leader, you already have the experience of practicing leadership before landing a formal leadership position. This experience will make the transition smoother and increase your chances of success.

As a leader, you will have the advantage of being more sensitive to the aspirations of your best followers. The best leaders help those who follow them grow personally and professionally, to become leaders in their own right. You’ll be in a great position to do that. 

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2. You put the team first

The best followers are also the best team-players. They know one truth: they are only as good as the team. And guess what, their bosses know that about them and thank their lucky stars for them. 

When you make personal sacrifices for the good of the team, you’re broadcasting the message “I care about ‘Us’ more than ‘Me’.” That sort of selflessness hardly ever goes unnoticed and unappreciated. 

Team-players are the ‘glue’ that keeps the team together. Their leaders count on them. Their peers confide in them. Everyone else likes them.

How this helps you as a future leader:

Guess who else puts the team first? That’s right, a good leader. The most respected leaders are the ultimate team-players — they use their powerful role to serve those who follow them.

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Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, describes this type of leadership as “being courageous by setting aspirational goals combined with the humble serving of others along that journey.”

If you could think beyond personal recognition, your future leadership is likely to be one that’s based on humility and generosity. And that inspires committed, loyal followers.

3. You believe in yourself and your leader — in that order

The best followers have confidence in their abilities and the abilities of their leaders. They don’t need to be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. They just get things done. 

They also know (and expect) that their leaders will get things done too. It’s a mutual trust that keeps the work engine humming along nicely. 

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As a good follower, you have the courage and confidence to respectfully discuss with your leader if you believe you’re not going in the right direction. You trust that your leader would appreciate the spirit of your input and engagement.

How this helps you as a future leader: 

To be a successful leader, you will need competent and confident followers. Legendary adman David Ogilvy once said, “If each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.”

When you have these star followers, you’ll know to give them the space to be their best selves, without looking over their shoulder every hour. You’ll have clear channels of communication and encourage active feedback on your leadership. The result? You’ll be respected for your openness and trust. 

4. It’s not who you follow, it’s what you follow

This may be a surprise. The best followers don’t just follow a leader; they follow the leader’s cause or vision. The leader is but an embodiment of that purpose. Apple’s employees may worship the iconic Steve Jobs, but it’s his vision based on innovation and intuition that makes them true devotees. 

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Followers become die-hard advocates when their personal passion and purpose are aligned with the those of their leader. 

Think about who you are as a person and what you want to be as a professional. Are they in line with your leader’s vision or cause?

How this helps you as a future leader:

As a leader, you will be able to see yourself no more than a follower and advocate of a cause — one that is much bigger than you. Such a perspective will allow you the humility to see past yourself and focus on your vision. Researchers at the University of Buffalo School of Management have shown that humble bosses are more effective and better liked.

When you understand how people follow the “Why” of a leader, you can use yours to rally individuals to achieve team success. Great leaders like Winston Churchill have done this with great results.  

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There’s nothing wrong with being a follower. Especially when you’re following with leadership intent. What you learn as a follower can prepare you to be a greater leader than you can ever imagine.

Victor Ng is an executive coach, speaker and entrepreneur who helps future leaders reach their true potential.Victor has 18 years of corporate experience in advertising and marketing communication, where he is credited with over 100 professional awards and became one of the youngest in the industry to reach the regional C-suite management. He writes on personal and professional development at my blog newandimproved.me. Get your free self-coaching worksheet "Adversity to Advantage" to reframe challenges and refocus on your goals. Follow Victor on Twitter.

Read the original article on Contributor. Copyright 2017.
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