"He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader." This piece of enduring wisdom is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, and it remains a foundational philosophy advocated and trained by sports teams, the military, and other effective organizations worldwide.
In discussions of organizational success and personal development, leadership frequently captures the spotlight. However, psychological research and leadership theory suggest that the inverse is equally critical: the quality of one’s followership determines the strength of one’s leadership. Understanding this dynamic requires examining the psychological motivations behind social conformity, the distinction between destructive herd mentality and principled alignment, and the core components of effective followership across sports, organizations, and daily life.
Young people frequently exhibit a tendency to engage in irresponsible behaviors simply to fit in with a social peer group, often driven by underlying feelings of insecurity. To allay these anxieties, individuals often conform to a social clique, adopting valueless or harmful habits such as vaping, drinking, and drug use. In these instances, they act like sheep, errantly following the herd off the side of a cliff merely to secure a short-term, false sense of belonging and security.
Yet, this does not imply that all forms of following are inherently negative. Adhering to a principled, value-based group—such as a religious organization, a competitive athletic team, or another virtuously purposed entity—can be highly advantageous. As detailed by Michael Tomasello in his acclaimed 2019 book, Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny, learning to conform to and imitate the cultural norms of a group is a uniquely human quality. This capacity enables and sustains the valued principles and cooperative structures of such entities.
Making the Right Decision
Conformity to the correct herd can move individuals toward long-term, meaningful outcomes, whereas wrong herd behavior rarely yields positive results. Navigating this lifelong dilemma involves choosing which groups to join or reject, and deciding which behaviors to imitate or resist. To follow or not to follow remains a perennial question for individuals across all stages of life.
Making a correct and meaningful choice is fundamentally a contextual decision-making process, a concept heavily emphasized by Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). This psychological intervention approach trains individuals to align their actions with what matters most through value-based choices and behaviors. Engaging in harmful activities such as smoking marijuana, participating in rage-baiting, or adopting other deleterious behaviors simply to fit in with a peer group falls short of qualifying as meaningful living.
Effective team members and leaders are anchored by their ability to adhere to and model the defining principles of an organization with a meaningful purpose. They participate in a collective group, but avoid herds that lead their members into oblivion. Furthermore, successful individuals follow in a manner that does not deter them from pursuing their own personal goals. They function much like a G.O.A.T.—the greatest of all time—climbing a unique, individual path up a mountain in their quest for personal achievement, balancing group loyalty with self-actualization.
"Followership" Defined
Adhering to principled living within a group setting is a concept known as followership. Considerable literature has explored this dynamic to explain how individuals contribute effectively to organizational goals without sacrificing their integrity.
Researchers S. L. Kleinsmith and S. Everts-Rogers, writing in a 2000 study published in the School Administrator, identified five vital aspects of followership. The first is being a team player who concentrates on the common goals and shared values of the organization. The second involves demonstrating a strong work ethic, while the third requires possessing high positive self-regard and maintaining high expectations for oneself. The fourth aspect is projecting optimism to others, and the fifth centers on practicing interpersonal intelligence.
Warren Bennis, a prolific writer and authority on leadership material, contributed an important addition to the framework of effective followership. He emphasized the necessity of being willing to tell the truth—sharing factual information and honest opinions with leaders, even when those truths are difficult to hear. When speaking out, effective followers do so respectfully and honestly, recognizing that true followership requires genuine courage.
A Sports Point of View
In the context of athletics, well-run teams rely heavily on value-based guidelines and behavioral expectations that must be followed. At the same time, players must recognize which team behaviors to avoid. Successful athletes navigate this terrain by discerning when to follow and when to resist, making deliberate decisions that align with competitive integrity.
Adhering to principled team expectations demonstrates strong followership and earns the respect of coaches, staff, and fellow competitors. Conversely, succumbing to a herd mentality that encourages counterproductive actions violates team standards, sportsmanship, and sometimes legal principles. Engaging in such conduct mirrors the behavior of a clueless sheep rather than a disciplined athlete.
A Religious Perspective
Similar dynamics appear in spiritual and religious communities. As an observer once remarked with characteristic insight, observing how religious individuals act inside a place of worship reveals little compared to watching their behavior in the parking lot afterward.
Many people regularly attend religious services and carefully follow the customs and rituals of their faith. While this can assist in cultivating virtuous living, discrepancies sometimes emerge when individuals leave the formal setting. Behaviors such as dishonesty, cheating on taxes or spouses, or engaging in prejudiced conduct sharply contradict the moral virtues espoused by reputable religious traditions. Believing that mere participation in religious rituals substitutes for ethical behavior is a misconception held by those who confuse routine conformity with genuine righteousness.
At the End of the Day
Following remains a valued process provided it leads to principled standards of behavior and does not interfere with the pursuit of a meaningful life. Thoughtlessly conforming to peer pressure simply to fit in and alleviate feelings of insecurity often results in lifelong disappointment and peril, offering little more than fleeting, short-term security.
Executing the vital aspects of followership fosters effectiveness and quality leadership across sports, professional organizations, and community endeavors. Aligning actions with the moral principles and guidelines of a team, organization, or religious community ensures a life of fulfillment. Ultimately, individuals who achieve greatness climb their own mountains while adhering to principled behavior, whereas those who merely follow the herd without reflection risk losing their way entirely.