Trish's Blog

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership and followership lately.

We spend so much time talking about what makes a great leader; vision, courage, communication, empathy, but rarely do we talk about what makes a great follower.

Yet every strong team I’ve ever worked with had both.

Followship isn’t about blindly agreeing or staying quiet. It’s about trust, respect, and contribution. It’s knowing when to support, when to challenge, and when to step back so others can lead.

And honestly, the best leaders I know are also great followers. They listen. They learn. They recognise that leadership isn’t a permanent position. it’s a role that moves depending on the moment, the project, or the person with the right expertise.

Maybe we’d have fewer leadership problems if we valued followship as much as leadership.

What do you think? Can you be both at once?