TOP STORY >> Top 10 ways to dazzle IG: No. 9 Followership

By Lt. Col. Nate Allerheiligen
314th Airlift Wing director of readiness
"Follow taskings and orders quickly and effectively, employ teambuilding skills, and always keep the “objective” in sight!"

– Maj. Gen. Mark Zamzow, TIG Brief Sept.-Oct. 2004


Last weeks’ “Dazzle” was on leadership. Hand in hand with leadership is followership. Followership is when you fully support the objectives, goals and vision of those appointed over you. Not only do you have to do what is directed, you’ve got to embrace the vision with a sense of urgency, personal pride and do everything in your power to make that vision a reality.

Consider the recent Super Bowl champions. Everyone on that team had to exhibit great followership: whether it was the quarterback calling the right plays, the linemen executing the desired blocking scheme or the receivers running the perfect routes. Every member of that team had to work-together to execute the game plan of the head coach.

Don’t look only to your immediate boss, but also try to solve problems for your boss’s boss. Attack every objective with the same drive and urgency as you would apply to your own initiatives. If you don’t like or understand why the organization is heading a particular direction, ask questions. Good followership isn’t blind obedience; rather, you can support the organization better by ensuring that key details have been well thought out and that the leadership’s objectives, goals and vision have been clearly communicated.

Trust your leadership and try to catch their vision. When you do, you’ll enjoy the effort more and we’ll be one step closer to the elusive “Outstanding!”