Followership Fundamentals
This term refers to the role every organizational member plays, regardless of whether they hold a formal leadership position.
What is a follower?
Managing up involves building a good relationship with this person.
Who is your boss?
Effective followers are loyal, but not blindly so. They must sometimes do this to power.
What is speak truth?
Managing sideways refers to influencing these individuals.
Who are peers or coworkers?
Good followership is often misunderstood as this behavior, which involves excessive agreement and flattery.
What is being a "yes man" or "brown-noser"?
One key to managing up is accepting this, even when it’s not what you want to hear.
What is feedback or direction?
This term describes the act of exposing wrongdoing within an organization.
What is whistleblowing?
When managing sideways, this should be a last resort.
What is involving the boss?
Effective followers are known for this type of thinking, which involves questioning norms and seeking innovation.
What is independent, critical thinking?
To manage up effectively, followers should align with their leader’s style, goals, and this.
What is perspective?
Michael Woodford exposed fraud at this company, demonstrating ethical followership.
What is Olympus?
Effective sideways management involves empathy and understanding of these.
What are individual needs and work styles?
This type of follower is loyal and agreeable but may hinder innovation and promote groupthink.
What is a conformist?
This phrase describes the idea that followers should commit to a decision even if they disagree with it.
What is "disagree but commit"?
Excessive loyalty can be harmful when these are compromised.
What are moral values or laws?
Peers often share these overarching goals, such as satisfying customers or instructors.
What are superordinate goals?
This type of follower is disengaged but capable of critical thought, often due to past rejection or poor delivery.
What is an alienated follower?
One way to encourage desired behavior from a leader is to do this yourself first.
What is role model the behavior?
This former NSA contractor’s controversial whistleblowing raised questions about method and impact.
Who is Edward Snowden?
This principle from managing up also applies to managing sideways: assume these about others.
What are good motives?