In Praise of Followership

Why high-performing teams aren’t just built on great leaders — but great team mates too.

We talk endlessly about leadership — and often forget the other half of the equation. Followership.

It’s not a popular word. It sounds passive. Junior. Less important. But in my experience, the best teams — whether on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or delivering a complex office fit-out — are powered by people who know how to lead and follow. Who know when to take initiative and when to align. Who make their leaders better — not by staying silent, but by showing up in the moments that matter.

In short: there is no great leadership without great followership.

The Moment That Matters

Let me give you an example.

You’re halfway through delivering a high-stakes office project. The initial design impressed, but the client is now growing restless. They’ve just sent a blunt email to everyone on the team, complaining that no one is listening and questioning the quality of what’s being delivered.

To make matters worse, the project lead is on annual leave for two weeks. No one’s quite sure whose job it is to respond — so no one does. The team is tense, quiet, hoping the issue might blow over.

But one person steps forward.

They don’t wait for a formal escalation path. They gather key team members to understand the root of the problem. They call the client directly to listen — not defend. They take ownership of a few small fixes that show the client they’re being heard. They reassure without overpromising. And they do it all without any fanfare.

That’s followership.

That’s the kind of professional every leader wants in the trenches. Not just someone who’s technically competent — but someone who takes responsibility for the whole outcome, not just their narrow lane.

What Makes a Great Follower?

A great follower isn’t a “yes person.” They’re not obedient or passive. They are actively contributing to team performance. They:

• Understand what the team is trying to achieve — and take action to support it

• Speak up when something’s going off track

• Challenge constructively — and then fully align behind the decision made

• Hold high standards — for themselves and others

• Step up when things are messy or unclear

• Support the leader, even when they’re not in the room

I’ve written before about the importance of A-Players. This is what A-Players do. They don’t just execute their own tasks — they make the whole team better.

Leadership Creates the Conditions — But It’s Not Enough

Of course, great followership doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Leaders have to create the conditions where it’s safe to speak up, to challenge, to take ownership.

That means:

• Giving clear direction — and context for why it matters

• Encouraging accountability across the team

• Rewarding initiative, not just loyalty

• Trusting people to act in the grey — not micromanaging them into silence

But even with all of that in place, you still need professionals who are willing to step into the gap. Who don’t sit back and say, “Not my job.” Who have your back, hold their nerve, and move the team forward when it’s most needed.

We Need to Talk About This More

In most businesses — especially in high-growth, high-pressure environments — we talk a lot about leadership capability. We obsess over who’s in charge. But we often neglect to talk about the quality of followership in the team.

That gap shows up in execution. It shows up in cultural drift. And it shows up in the quiet erosion of trust when people don’t step forward, don’t challenge, don’t hold each other to account.

Final Thought

The best teams I’ve worked with — military or commercial — are full of people who know how to lead and follow. They don’t cling to titles. They focus on outcomes. They speak the truth, support each other, and do the right thing — especially when no one’s watching.

Leadership matters. But so does followership. Let’s start recognising the professionals who make their teams great — not from the front, but from right beside you.