KELLEY'S TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODEL
Kelley's model classifies followers based on these two dimensions.
What are Independent Critical Thinking and Active Participation?
This followership style demonstrates both independent thinking and active participation.
What is the Effective Follower?
Effective followers demonstrate these two key characteristics.
What are Independent Critical Thinking and Active Participation?
This relationship exists between effective followership and effective leadership.
What is they are interdependent and mutually reinforcing?
An Airman waits to be told every task and rarely contributes ideas.
Which followership style best describes this behavior?
What is Sheep?
This thinking style evaluates information independently instead of blindly accepting direction.
What is Independent Critical Thinking?
These followers simply comply with instructions, rarely show initiative, and depend heavily on leaders.
Who are Sheep?
True or False:
Effective followers always agree with their leaders.
What is False?
Most military leaders spend much of their careers performing this role.
What is Following?
An experienced NCO constantly complains about leadership decisions but never volunteers to help improve the situation.
Which followership style is demonstrated?
What is an Alienated Follower?
This participation style describes followers who willingly contribute to accomplishing the mission.
What is Active Participation?
These followers think independently but often criticize leadership without actively helping solve problems.
Who are Alienated Followers?
This characteristic allows followers to respectfully challenge poor decisions while supporting the mission.
What is Critical Thinking?
Strong leaders typically develop because they first become these.
What are Effective Followers?
A senior Airman changes behavior depending on who is supervising, avoiding conflict while contributing only enough to stay out of trouble.
Which followership style is demonstrated?
What is a Survivor?
A follower who demonstrates dependent, uncritical thinking while actively participating belongs in this category.
What are Yes People?
These followers adapt their behavior simply to survive changing circumstances.
Who are Survivors?
Effective followers willingly accept this while remaining accountable for mission success.
What is Responsibility?
True or False:
Leadership and followership are completely separate skills.
What is False?
A technical sergeant respectfully questions an unsafe procedure, proposes a better solution, helps implement the final decision, and mentors younger Airmen throughout the process.
Which followership style is demonstrated?
What is an Effective Follower?
An Airman routinely analyzes information independently, respectfully challenges poor decisions, and volunteers for difficult assignments.
Where would Kelley place this follower?
What is an Effective Follower?
An Airman always enthusiastically supports leadership decisions without asking questions, even when problems are obvious.
Which followership style is demonstrated?
What are Yes People?
A lieutenant proposes an unsafe course of action. A staff sergeant respectfully explains the risks, recommends a safer alternative, and then fully supports the final lawful decision.
What characteristic of an effective follower is demonstrated?
What is Courageous Critical Thinking (combined with active participation and professionalism)?
A flight commander encourages Airmen to think critically, voice concerns respectfully, and take initiative.
Which type of followership is the commander trying to develop?
What are Effective Followers?
During an emergency, a young Airman notices that the flight commander overlooked a serious hazard. The Airman respectfully brings it to the commander's attention, helping prevent an accident.
Why is this behavior critical to military leadership?
Because effective followership strengthens leadership, improves decision-making, protects the mission, and demonstrates moral courage.