The leaders and followers relationship is a key aspect of organizational culture. When people think about leadership, they generally think about leaders as people who are in charge and make decisions. But, in reality, leaders are more than that. They are people who understand and support the needs of their followers. Leaders have a lot of qualities we admire: they are friendly, funny, patient, and reliable. Some important traits of effective leadership are self-sufficiency, capability and knowledge, trustworthiness, willingness to give others the benefit of the doubt, and honesty. In other words, people who seem like leaders have the qualities that support their followers to feel comfortable, safe, and trust them. The leaders and followers relationship is very crucial for any team at work. However, this blog post will explain the leaders and followers relationship and what it means for your organization.
What is the Leaders and Followers Relationship?
The leaders and followers relationship is crucial for any team. It can be defined as the relationship between a person who leads and the people they lead. In addition, the leader-follower relationship reflects how a leader and his followers perceive each other and interact with one another at work.
A leader, in this sense, is someone who manages others, so they are able to work together more effectively. This management entails planning and making decisions on behalf of the organization. In most cases, a leader also delegates tasks and responsibilities to others on their team. A follower, on the other hand, is someone who works for or supports their leader or manager. Here, the leader-follower relation is indicated by the interactions between the leader and the followers while doing each activity.
Why are the Leaders and Followers Relationship Important?
Understanding the leader-follower relationship is critical because it affects everyone in the organization. There are numerous advantages to having healthy leaders and followers relationships. Leaders that excel in this area will be able to guide their teams in the right direction and convince them to do what they desire. here are some benefits of having a positive leader-follower relationship –
1. Creates a Sense of Belonging
A positive leader-follow relationship also creates a sense of belonging in an organization, like people feel like they belong and that they matter. This sense of belonging can help motivate people to work harder because they feel like they have a group identity. When a leader intentionally organizes the work experience around belonging, team members are better positioned to be more productive and inventive, resulting in improved individual and organizational outcomes.
2. Motivate People to Work Harder
Leaders have the ability to influence followers both within and outside of their organizations. Individuals and teams can be motivated in the desired direction by leaders who lead from a spiritual, honest, or servant model. They can motivate employees to volunteer and participate in community outreach programs, as well as other types of civic and social duty. When leaders and followers have a good relationship, it motivates the followers to go to a place they may not have gone otherwise.
3. Create Trust Among the Followers for Their Leaders
The first step in unlocking all of the positive behaviors we want in our workers is to build trust. Trust fosters industry (hard effort and devotion), independent thinking (problem-solving and solution-finding on your own), self-management (championing your cause/job without being led/asked), and so on. Building trust is an ongoing leadership challenge that requires a good relationship with the followers. Good leaders devote their time and effort to establishing positive relationships with their followers so that they can trust them. They start and conclude meetings on time, and they do it in little ways. And in significant ways, such as providing excellent cover for their teammates when things go wrong.
So, a positive relationship also creates trust among the followers for their leaders. Followers need to trust that the leaders will care about them, protect them from problems, and be there for them when things get difficult. In return, followers will want to put forth their best effort and take on more responsibility.
4. Create a Happy Work Environment
In every business, the leader-follower interaction is the single most crucial relationship, especially if the corporation claims to value corporate culture. When there is a healthy leader-follower connection, the leaders are quick to forgive and reluctant to punish, and the entire team feels as though their leader is looking out for their best interests. As a result, a happy and productive work atmosphere is created.
5. Create Respect Among the Followers for Their Leaders
Leaders that have a positive relationship with their followers are more likely to empower their followers. They also motivate, encourage, advise, and teach their followers to work toward a shared objective. A great leader is always by his supporters’ side. As a result, the followers create tremendous regard for their leader in their hearts.
6. Reduce Employee Turnover
When it comes to corporate leadership, the most typical term you’ll hear is “people leave leaders, not organizations.” According to Gallup’s comprehensive 2015 study, 75% of employees left their work at some time in their careers to “get away from their management.” Building a healthy leader-follower connection is the only way to reduce excessive staff turnover.
Why Understanding the Leader and Follower Relationship Matters
In every organization, both leaders and followers exist. They are, in fact, the most crucial components of the organizational structure. Great leaders inspire their people to go places they may not have gone otherwise. They inspire, support, guide and train their followers to achieve a common goal. Followers, on the other hand, are just as vital as leaders. There is no leader without at least one follower. Good followers follow their leader’s instructions in any situation. Therefore, the leader-follower relationship is hugely important for any organization. To achieve the ultimate success, both leaders and followers need to work hand to hand.
A healthy leader-follower relationship enables the leaders to understand those followers in order to make them feel safe and supported. It also helps them to meet the needs of their followers so that those followers are motivated to do well. On the other hand, followers who have a good relationship with their leaders can feel free to talk to their leaders regarding any problem. It makes the work process more happy and productive.
Conclusion
The leaders and followers relationship is a symbiotic one. The leader provides direction and guidance and the follower follows the leader. This balance is important to maintain the effectiveness of the relationship. If one party becomes too dominant, it can create resentment and eventually break down the relationship. To prevent this from happening, be sure to communicate with each other and actively seek to understand each other.
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