Leadership is certainly harder if it's only a one-way street. WNBA star Caitlin Clark has been in the news this week for showing us how effective followership works. Instead of trying to lead the way to the basket every time - which she is certainly able to do - she instead has been feeding the basketball to other teammates who might be better placed to sink a basket. When players "hog" the ball, scoring possibilities are capped by that player's abilities. When every player on a team looks for opportunities to feed the ball to others, scoring possibilities increase significantly.
If you happened to catch the cycling events during the recent Paris Olympics, you would have seen some great examples of followership. Many cycling events feature teams of riders that alternately take turns leading and following-the-leader. The leader of the team sets a blistering pace that literally parts the air for the followers and "sucks" them along in his or her wake. As the leader tires, they drop to the back of the team in order to rest in the slipstream created by the new leader and the rest of the team. With the right teamwork, at the Olympic level, speeds in excess of 43 miles per hour are possible.
Having participated in amateur cycling events at the bicycle velodrome in Asheville, North Carolina, I can assure you of the power of having effective leaders and followers in the cycling events. It's both exciting and scary to be rolling along at speeds approaching 30 mph just inches from the back tire of the bike in front of you. As a follower, I have to trust the leader to simultaneously pull me along and not do something unexpected. I also have to be prepared on a moment's notice the step up to lead the team. If everyone knows what to do and when to do it, it's an absolute thrill. When any member of the team falters, the results can be disastrous.
At its core, servant leadership seeks to involve others in decision making, is strongly based in ethical and caring behavior, and enhances the growth of others while improving the caring and quality of life. Like an Olympic athlete, servant leaders look for opportunities to pass the ball to others who are in a better position to move the team toward success. As the same time, they are ready to step up and lead when others are flagging and in need of rest.
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