Ways that follower assist leaders achieve organizational goals
Leadership involves working together will all members of the organization to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Followers play a critical role in influencing the action of leaders in an organization. Followership helps improve management and increases the potential of the organization regarding performance. According to McCallum (2013), followers act as judges in the organization and have the potential of influencing leadership directives. Followers help leaders achieve organizational goals by creating a workplace environment that accommodates leaders. Leaders need followers to work out on some issues such as decision-making process and creating organizational schedules. A good relationship between the leaders and followers creates an interactive working environment where both followers and the leader are free to perform their duties effectively. For example, in the practice of nursing nurse leaders always seek advice and help from followers when making healthcare organizational decisions for attaining goals.
The organization faces numerous consequences when followers undermine a leader’s attempt to achieve organizational goals. First, there is the lack of coordination between the organizational leaders and followers. The organization experiences poor performance and growth since followers no longer take instructions from leaders. Second, followers attempt to create drama in the organization through such activities as demonstrations and strikes to get rid of leaders.
How organizations ensure leaders work with followers
Followers are important elements of the organization and should be given special attention just like leaders because they play significant roles in the running of the organization. Leaders should create good relationships with followers by involving them in the organizations’ decision-making processes. Second, leaders must work together with followers through building a community within the organization. Finally, leaders should show commitment to the growth of followers. The leader should give chances to followers to attain higher levels of management by encouraging them to act as leaders. Servant leadership has grown in popularity among nurses because of their good characteristic skills that allow leaders and followers to work together towards achieving organizational goals. Servant leaders are listening, aware of their follower's needs and want, persuasive, and accept their mistakes (Frandsen, 2014).
References
Frendsen, B. (2014). Nursing leadership: Management & leadership styles. AANAC. Retrieved
McCallum, J.S. (2013). Followership: The other side of leadership. Ivy Business Journal.
Retrieved 5, Sep. 2016, from http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/followership-the-other-side-of-leadership/
