“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”
This timeless piece of wisdom, long attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, remains a cornerstone of organizational training across industries. From elite military units to championship sports franchises, the principle is treated as an operational truth: before one can effectively guide others, one must master the art of supporting a shared mission.
Yet, human behavior often diverges sharply from this ideal, particularly among young people navigating the complex waters of social belonging. In an effort to alleviate underlying feelings of insecurity, adolescents and young adults frequently gravitate toward destructive behaviors simply to secure a temporary sense of acceptance. Whether engaging in vaping, underage drinking, or recreational drug use, these individuals often mimic the actions of a social clique, acting much like sheep blindly following a herd off a cliff just to achieve a fleeting illusion of security.
This destructive form of conformity, however, does not mean that the act of following is inherently flawed. Adhering to a principled, value-driven organization—such as a dedicated community group, a structured sports team, or a religious institution—can yield profound personal and professional advantages. As noted by anthropologist Michael Tomasello in his acclaimed 2019 book, Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny, the human capacity to learn, conform to, and imitate cultural norms is a uniquely evolutionary adaptation. This social alignment enables and sustains the core values that bind communities together, allowing collective enterprises to thrive across generations.
Making the Right Decision
The challenge facing individuals at every stage of life is not whether to conform, but rather which herd to join, which to reject, and which behaviors to imitate or resist. Conformity to a constructive, well-aligned group moves individuals toward long-term, meaningful outcomes, whereas toxic herd behavior typically leads to personal stagnation or harm. It is a lifelong dilemma of discernment: to follow, or not to follow.
Making a meaningful choice requires a contextual decision-making process, an approach strongly emphasized by Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). This psychological framework trains individuals to align their daily actions with deeply held personal values. Engaging in deleterious behaviors—such as smoking marijuana or participating in toxic online rage-baiting simply to fit in with a particular crowd—fails to qualify as a component of a purposeful life.
Effective team members and organizational leaders are fundamentally anchored by their ability to adhere to and model the defining principles of an organization that serves a meaningful purpose. They belong to a collective, but it is not one that leads its members into oblivion. Furthermore, successful individuals follow in a manner that never deters them from pursuing their own ambitious life goals. They operate much like a G.O.A.T.—the Greatest of All Time—relentlessly climbing their unique path up a mountain in pursuit of personal excellence.
This delicate balance of principled living within a group setting is a concept known in organizational psychology as followership.
"Followership" Defined
While leadership is frequently studied and dissected, the corresponding art of followership is equally vital to organizational success. Scholars S. L. Kleinsmith and S. Everts-Rogers, writing in their foundational 2000 study on the subject, identified five core aspects that define effective followership within any operational environment.
First, an effective follower must act as a team player, concentrating entirely on the common goals and shared values of the organization. Second, they must demonstrate a strong and consistent work ethic. Third, they must possess high positive self-regard while maintaining high expectations for their own performance and conduct. Fourth, they are tasked with projecting genuine optimism to their peers, serving as a stabilizing force within the group. Finally, they must practice a high level of interpersonal intelligence, navigating social dynamics with empathy and awareness.
Adding to these foundational principles, prolific leadership author Warren Bennis highlighted a vital, often overlooked component of effective followership: the courage to tell the truth. Bennis emphasized that true followers must be willing to share truthful facts and honest opinions with leaders, even when those perspectives are difficult to hear. When speaking out, effective followers do so respectfully and honestly, recognizing that speaking truth to power requires genuine moral courage.
A Sports Point of View
The principles of followership are particularly visible in the realm of athletics. Well-run sports teams operate under strict value-based guidelines and clear behavioral expectations. Athletes and staff must navigate a continuous series of choices regarding what to support and what to resist.
When athletes commit to team-oriented expectations—such as arriving on time, holding themselves accountable for mistakes, supporting teammates through slumps, and prioritizing collective success over individual statistics—they demonstrate true followership. These actions earn the deep respect of coaches, teammates, and fans alike.
Conversely, a destructive herd mentality in sports often encourages behaviors that violate team rules, sportsmanship, and sometimes the law. When players participate in hazing, show disrespect to officials, shirk conditioning responsibilities, or adopt a toxic attitude toward opponents, they are simply following the loudest voices in the locker room. Such actions reflect a lack of critical thinking, reducing individuals to the status of clueless sheep rather than disciplined competitors.
A Religious Perspective
The tension between ritualistic compliance and genuine moral alignment is equally evident in religious communities. As an insightful observer once noted, if one wishes to truly understand an individual’s character, they should not watch them inside the sanctuary during services, but rather observe their behavior in the parking lot immediately afterward.
Many individuals regularly attend religious services and meticulously follow the customs, rituals, and outward traditions of their respective faiths. While this can be a positive force if it fosters virtuous living, a disconnect often occurs once the service concludes. Individuals who engage in unethical business practices, dishonesty in their personal lives, or discriminatory behavior demonstrate a profound failure of true spiritual followership.
Such behavior represents a contradiction of the moral virtues espoused by reputable religious traditions. Merely executing the outward rituals of a group does not automatically render an individual righteous or faithful. True alignment requires internalizing and practicing core ethical principles consistently, far beyond the confines of communal gatherings.
At the End of the Day
Ultimately, following is a valuable and necessary human process, provided it leads to principled standards of behavior and does not compromise an individual’s pursuit of a meaningful life.
Thoughtlessly conforming to the actions of others solely to alleviate feelings of insecurity and gain social acceptance often leads to lifelong disappointment and personal peril. While this type of conformity may offer a temporary sense of security, it lacks substance and long-term fulfillment.
By executing the vital aspects of followership, individuals can achieve remarkable effectiveness and leadership capability in sports, business, and community endeavors. Aligning one’s daily conduct with the positive guidelines and moral principles of a team, organization, or faith ensures a life of genuine purpose and achievement.
In the metaphorical landscape of life, mountains are meant to be climbed by those who strive for the summit through principled effort. Those who merely follow the crowd without reflection will always remain part of the herd.