Issue #18, November 4, 2009
In our last issue we looked at the call for servant followers. It focused on following well. But this begs the question, “What can the leader do to encourage followers to follow well?” True leaders will influence this process and recognize that healthy leaders produce healthy followers. In this issue we’ll focus on four steps leaders can take to encourage followers to follow.
Model the way.
This basic principle of effective leadership is critical in the area of building effective followers. Be an example of what it means to follow well. Paul understood this principle when he said, “Follow me…as I follow Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) Before he could call others to follow him, he needed to be a follower. Assess your own followership. How well do you follow? How do you speak about those in authority over you? Have your followers ever seen you support a directive you wouldn’t have chosen?
Serve your followers.
Serve first, before you expect others to serve you. Rehoboam’s counselors understood this well when they said, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” (1Ki 12:7) Rehoboam didn’t listen to this advice. He wanted servant followers without being a servant leader. He learned the hard way that leadership just doesn’t work like that! Check on your rating as a servant leader. Can you point to one specific action you have done in the last week that shows the heart of a servant? Will that action be recognized by others as service? If in doubt, ask your followers if they have observed any act of service from you in the last month. If you ask those who are not afraid to speak truth their response might be revealing!
Earn trust.
Trust cannot be commanded, it must be earned. If you find yourself making statements like “Trust me, I’m the leader” you likely have a long ways to go in building trust with your followers. Listen carefully and allow God to speak through those you lead. In the process, recognize that some followers deal with hurts from the past. Their experience with abusive leaders or other pain makes it very hard for them to trust your leadership, no matter how Christ like. It will take time to heal these wounds.
Teach about followership.
When you can honestly say that you have a good record of accomplishment in the first three steps, it is time to raise the issue of servant followership in teaching or open discussion. When the time is right, move with quiet strength in this area and with the confidence that God has called you to lead and a part of your leadership will be to move yourself and others to healthy positions of leading and following for the good of the organization. You are responsible to influence; don’t expect the followers to initiate this process. Do this with courage and mixed with a lot of humility especially in situations where previous leaders have abused their positions. Share with others your expectations both for leaders and followers. Do a motive check before you attempt to speak on this issue. Why do you want to teach about followership? Is it for your own good, or for the good of the followers? If you are doing it with a hidden agenda or to make your leadership easier, don’t do it! That’s not servant leadership! But if you genuinely want to see each part of the team functioning to their fullest capacity move forward with courage.
For further reflection and discussion:
- How am I doing as a follower? (You might want to review the last issue and read it not as a leader, but to assess how well you are a servant follower!)
- In what ways have I recently demonstrated servant leadership to my followers?
- In what ways have my actions built or destroyed trust in my followers? What needs to be strengthened or changed to build trust?
- Have I tried too quickly to teach about followership? What has been the result?
- When is the right time for me to teach about followership? How will I know that the time is right? Are there others, not in formal positions of leadership, who could help bring a healthy perspective to others?