In this lesson you will discover what followership means, and why it is important to you as a volunteer. We will also provide you with a model to help you determine what type of follower you are, and some helpful hints on how to be a better follower. These are important concepts to master as you gain insight into your responsibilities as a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

You’ve heard it time and time again, "Before you can lead, you have to learn to follow." The West Point Theory says, "able leaders emerge from the ranks of able followers." So we recognize that the concept of followership is important, but what exactly is it? The Civil Air Patrol defines followership as reaching a specific goal while exercising respect for authority, a positive attitude, integrity, and self-discipline. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, you will have many opportunities to practice followership. This lesson will help you be the best follower you can be with the ultimate goal of helping you be the best leader you can be.

When you joined the Civil Air Patrol, you agreed to be professional, act morally and responsibly, complete your tasks to the best of your ability, and serve the public. These are not easy to do if you do not understand the basics of followership. How good a follower you become will largely determine your personal growth while you serve in the Civil Air Patrol.

If the squadron or unit is going to be the best it can be then it needs members to step up to the plate, accept the responsibilities they have been given, and do it with respect and enthusiasm. Remember, your individual contributions are valuable, and a critical component to the effectiveness of the CAP team.

When addressing this question, it is first helpful to determine what follower traits you currently have. A researcher named R. E. Kelly interviewed leaders and followers to determine the best way of identifying the best followers. Click on the different sections of Kelly’s Two-Dimensional Model of Follower Behavior for a short scenario for each type of follower. Remember, these categorized follower types represent extremes. People generally don’t fall into the extreme end of the continuum. For demonstration purposes, the members in the examples represent extreme cases.

Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review. An exhibit from "In Praise of Followers" by Robert E. Kelley, issue (November/December 1988). Copyright Ó 1988 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College; all rights reserved.

Ideally, we all want to be an effective follower. The challenge is to make the effort to develop characteristics that promote followership.

There are specific characteristics we can work on to become better followers. These include, but are not limited to, being enthusiastic, being proactive, owning the territory, being versatile and flexible, avoiding the complaining trap, and practicing the CAP Core Values. These characteristics represent only a small sample of the areas you can focus on to grow as a follower. No one can force you to be a better follower, you must take the initiative and work at it.

Conclusion

The Civil Air Patrol needs effective followers who are willing to contribute to the overall effort of the squadron/unit. Therefore, it is important to understanding the basic principles of followership, and apply them in all that you do. This will not only improve your working environment, but it will make you a better person as well. Remember, the first step in becoming a better leader is mastering the concepts of followership.