Being a good follower doesn’t mean you struggle to stand up for yourself or that you lack leadership skills. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It means that you’re able to put the team’s vision ahead of anything else in order to do what needs to be done. Here’s more.

A leader in training

Being a follower is simply being a leader in training. Good followers stay abreast with what’s happening around them, both with their leaders and other members of the team. It’s good to think ahead and use opportunities to learn how to lead by understanding team dynamics and being observant.

Prioritise the team

Good followers, a lot like leaders, put their team first. They understand that if one person in the team underperforms, the whole team is affected. So, to prevent this from happening, good followers will always help their teammates where necessary. This makes leaders realise that they can count on their team member to keep the team together on days that they themselves can’t.

Self-confidence is key

Having a high level of confidence in yourself and your abilities is great because it allows you to start and complete tasks without being told. Good leaders are able to take initiative without being pushed or constantly reminded. This kind of confidence allows you to reach out to your teammates when you need help because you understand that it doesn’t mean you’re incompetent, it just means you’re so eager to do well that you’re okay with asking for help.

Work with integrity

Showing integrity in the way you do your work makes you trustworthy and reliable. It means that your word can be trusted and that you’re likely to deliver on something once you’ve agreed to it. Remember, trust is a valuable part of any successful working relationship, so it’s important to nurture it.

Show support

Your team members and your leader can benefit from you being supportive to your teammates. The team’s success is more important than being able to impress your leader so it’s good to show support to your teammates.

There's nothing wrong with being a great follower - if anything, it’s the best way to prepare you to lead and grow in your career. So, offer your teammates the support they need, work with integrity and confidence and allow yourself to grow by learning valuable lessons that’ll help you in the future. Remember, professional success doesn’t just happen overnight, it’s all about taking small yet deliberate steps towards your goals, using the resources you have at your disposal.