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how much of a follower are you?


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<it's probably too much apprentice-watching that is making me ask>

 

i tend to follow unless/until i notice some lack of credibility in the leader. i'm a good second in command, generally. (as long as the leader is ethical) sometimes i wish i could change that, but i suspect it's pretty fundamental to my character. i notice it all the time: in volunteer groups, in social groups, at work, even in my family. there are some isolated places where i am a leader, but in general i am happy to fly below the radar unless the person in charge lacks support for his claims of superiority. my boss, now, frankly, is an idiot, and it's bothersome.

 

how about you guys? do you consider yourself leaders or followers? why?

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zarathustra

What sometimes happens in organizations is that a subordinate-follower, because of reputation, expertise and interpersonal skills, can, through counsel, lead the leaders. This "leader-follower" hybrid exists--I'm one.

 

True, leader-followers don't wield power, they exercise influence--which is a type of derivative power.

 

At my firm , I'm Ethics Counsel (I can almost hear the hootsof derision. :D ).I have tremendous say in matters involving conflicts of interest, etc. I lead the leader (our Firm's CEO) on ethics issues.

 

I tend to look at the leader, follower identity situationally (along with many other things). I'll lead in certain settings, and follow in others. What determines whether I lead or follow is my interest in the activity, my self-confidence, perceived status among the actors and seniority.

 

What sometimes happens is that I assign myself follower status and then notice, to my surprise, that others view me as the leader. I imagine the converse would be painfully embarrassing.

 

Quite seriously, jenny, you may identify yourself as a follower, but I perceive you as a leader among veteran LoveShackers. :)

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I'm in a leadership role at work but my style is collaborative, I'm happy for the team to lead and only step in when necessary. I'm not sure why I'm a leader. I have answers from personality assessments etc but I'm not sure how credible such stuff is. I think it's a matter of personal preference. People are good at what they enjoy. I like people to get on well together and I am easily bored. By being a leader I can make the working environment fun and the tasks are less routine.

 

Outside of work is a different matter. I don't fit into the role of leader as such although my daughter says I am Bossy :D

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Fedup&givingup

I would say I've been both. I've never been one to do anything in order to fit in.

 

All I can think of in with this terminology is high school days. I went to a VERY cliquey one at that. I managed to have a diversity of friends and went against the grain with what you should and should not do. For instance, I did a sport all 3 times of the school year, but I ALSO sang in the chorus. That was unheard of, actually. I really didn't care though, because I enjoyed doing both, and I had friends from both sides.

 

When it comes down to it, I tend to do what I want to do, what I think is right, regardless of what anyone else is going to think. So, people have followed me at times, and I have followed people at times.

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I fly below the radar for the most part.......not really leading (or following). However, if something isn't working, I step it up to a leadership role.

 

I think I'd do well on Survivor :p

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I'm really not much of a follower, because I get tired of daudling (sp?) and ineptness, so I generally tend to take charge and lead the way.

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End of my rope

I'm a leader. I always have been. As a child, in my teens, and now in my early adult years. In high school I was the president of all the clubs, the president of my class all four years, I was the volleyball team captain 2 years, the Field Commander in marching band, and I was the ambassador to the Hugh O'Brian (HOBY) Leadership Seminar my sophomore year. I've been at my current job one year and after 6 months was made a supervisor and have already been offered a management position, though I declined it due to the number of hours I would have to work.

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I'm absolutely not a follower when it comes to trends or cliques - blech!

 

I try to take a second-banana role in things, but people tend to look to me to lead. A personal coach told me that I have excellent leadership qualities and that's why; it never occurred to me. I end up being asked to be on boards all the time. It's even been suggested I go into politics. However, I have zero aspirations to lead and I avoid taking leadership positions. I tend to take on the role of program planner and I enjoy that thoroughly; it's awfully nice when people like my ideas and want to carry them out but somebody else is welcome to take on the lead implementation role.

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i am happiest in the position of a follower whose opinion is valued by the leader. i'm happy to be told what to do by my boss, as long as it's in a form of dicussing it with me, not "go do X". i'm just as happy to let guys lead in r/s's, as long as i feel that he's attentive to what matters to me, and discusses everything with me.

 

i guess it's a balance between having my opinion/desires valued and having somebody wise® to show me the way.

 

when it comes to trends and stuff, i'm w/ moi - they can all go to hell!

 

-yes

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i was never really much of a follower in h.s. cause i saw no need to.

 

now im in college and im definitely my own leader, if you want something done, do it yourself.

at work im more of the leader where the interns possibly look up to me as i am more knowledgeable about many more things than they are. plus i give suggestions to the boss if im ever in the mood. yes me and those guys sit in front of a computer at work, but if u dont speak to others or give suggestions or socialize with bosses or co-workers you'll just be another scrub.

 

even tho i may not have any followers i still am my own leader and do what i want for myself and my needs.

 

the truth is a lot of ppl respect leaders (or if they see that you're important and you dont need others to tell you what to do), even tho they may not say it they do. in order to be a leader you need Confidence and self esteem to accomplish it. when others see this, they will label you as a leader in their minds.

 

i think the true secret to being a leader is having your own goals/ambition and going towards that goal regardless if anyone is by your side. another secret is that you should be a people person, learning how to interact with others will definitely help you even more.

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Darkangelism
Originally posted by jenny

<it's probably too much apprentice-watching that is making me ask>

 

i tend to follow unless/until i notice some lack of credibility in the leader. i'm a good second in command, generally. (as long as the leader is ethical) sometimes i wish i could change that, but i suspect it's pretty fundamental to my character. i notice it all the time: in volunteer groups, in social groups, at work, even in my family. there are some isolated places where i am a leader, but in general i am happy to fly below the radar unless the person in charge lacks support for his claims of superiority.

 

 

That describes me perfectly.

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reasontosigh
What sometimes happens is that I assign myself follower status and then notice, to my surprise, that others view me as the leader...

 

This has happened to me before as well.

 

I think I operate best - and am happier - as a second-in-command, though.

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It depends what kind of situation I am in to call me a follower or not. I don't think I am most the time. I like to do things on my own and with other people. Sometimes when I am with other people I like to do wonder off and do my own thing for a while and then come back to the group of people who I am with. Knowing that there is a group of friends to come back too.

 

I don't drive so if I am with a group of people and I am getting a lift with someone who wants to go somewhere with a group of people if I am not sure on what to do or don't feel like going with them that's the only time I'll follow if I didn't then I would be stuck out somewhere with no transport home.

 

In the end I mostly do what I feel like doing and make my own decision in the end. I guess it depends on if I care what I am doing at that point of time or not too.

 

I guess sometimes I am a follower and sometimes I am not. :) .

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