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There are many attributes of being a good leader, but for this particular blog post, I will focus on one: Being a follower!

I know, you are probably thinking, “What is this nut talking about? I am the boss! I don’t need to follow!”

Well, I would respectfully disagree. EVERYONE HAS A BOSS OR AT LEAST ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEONE! One must know that their success hinges on others, albeit customers, family members, or even your employees. To lead, one must know how to follow.

So, what makes a good follower? The Army has a great acronym that I believe captures most of the values of being a great follower and leader! It is LDRSHIP. It stands for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

Let’s take a look at each of these, shall we?

Loyalty

Be committed and present. This applies to your personal goals, business goals, organizational mission, and your family/friends.

Duty

Do what you say you will do. If you can’t accomplish your obligations and tasks, then be honest and ask for help. Duty also has a sister attribute called Accountability. We all report to someone – a boss, a spouse, our children, our team. Don’t forget to let others know what is going on and be honest on the assessment, expectations, and details.

Respect & Selfless Service

These two attributes are very important and work in tandem with one another. It all comes down to this one particular thought: display the “Golden Rule” in all that you do. “What is the Golden Rule?” It comes from the bible verse Matthew 7:12 which states “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” I also like to refer to it as being a “servant leader.” The kind of leader that puts the welfare of others before their own. Showing love and care for those that deserve it, but also those that do not deserve it. Do as Jesus did. Matthew 5:44 says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Honor

Stand up for what is right without doing or saying anything that deceives others.

Integrity

Just like the attribute of “honor,” integrity is built during the times of adversity and challenge. We define ourselves on how we react to situations that arise. Think about this…How do you want to be remembered? As Oprah Winfrey once said, “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”

Personal Courage

It isn’t always easy but there will be times we must be willing to stand up or speak up if something is wrong or unjust. If you know something or someone is doing wrong and you do nothing, you are supporting the person or structure that is committing the offense. Remember that personal courage is born through difficult times and refined through the good times.

I have also added a few more attributes that I feel personally are important to becoming a great leader (and follower):

Trust

Trust is elemental in everything we do. Trust should be given in relationships, but built over time. Trust is also the most delicate of attributes. Be careful not to sabotage trust between your boss, co-workers, spouse, friends, or children. Once it is broken, it is very difficult to build that back up again.

Initiative

Do not always expect to be told what to do. In a team, make sure you fully understand your team’s vision or problems. Then try to positively impact that vision or fix the problem. Similar to personal, family or business goals, do not wait for something to happen, but try to envision a better future and determine the challenges and risks that need to be solved in order to reach that favorable outcome.

Adaptability

Understand situations change and will not always work out. Try not to over-react. Stay calm and determine what needs to be done to right the course and set down the correct path.

Be a Good Communicator

This is composed of sharing information and receiving information. So many times, we think communication is all about speaking and voicing concerns, giving direction, etc. However, most of it is just being a good ACTIVE LISTENER! We can determine a more accurate and thoughtful response, after we truly listen to the person’s dialogue. Secondly, be sure to over-communicate information and communicate often.

Learn & Grow

We must consistently want to learn and grow. “If you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing and if you aren’t growing you’re dying” Be committed and take personal involvement to grow those around you. Mentor and develop!

Whether being an employee or employer, or being with family and friends, attributes of leadership apply and they start with being a good follower. Remember that no one is perfect. As Leslie Higgins says in the comedy series, Ted Lasso, “Human beings are never going to be perfect. The best we can do is to keep asking for help and accepting it when you can. And if you keep on doing that, you’ll always be moving towards better.” Through embodying these characteristics, we can contribute to the continued success and growth of our communities and our businesses.

What are some attributes that you believe makes a great leader?