Be a good leader by first being a good follower

Be a good leader by first being a good follower is in my thinking one of the most underrated paths to leadership excellence.

I'l share more how the two connect:

Learn Before You Lead

Observe how decisions are made. When you follow well, you see leadership from the inside.

Such as what works, what creates confusion, what builds trust.

This gives you a mental library to draw from when it's your turn to lead.

Ask great questions instead of simply assuming.

Good followers seek to understand intent, not just instructions.

This habit translates directly into leaders who then better communicate why, not just what.

Develop the Traits That Matter Most

Reliability means doing what you say, on time, every time. Leaders who were once dependable followers know how much it matters when someone on their team delivers consistently.

Situational awareness: Followers who pay attention to the bigger picture such as team morale, resource constraints, organizational priorities and develop the peripheral vision great leaders need.

Disagreeing constructively

The best followers push back thoughtfully through proper channels, not passive resistance.

This teaches you how to handle dissent graciously when you lead.

Ego management — Following well requires setting aside the need for credit.

Leaders with that muscle are far less threatened by talented people around them.

Build Trust from the Bottom Up

Trust flows in both directions. When people see you execute faithfully, support the team, and keep commitments, you earn the kind of credibility that makes people want to follow you and not just because of your title.

Always Be Studying the Leaders Around You

Following attentively is like a free masterclass.

You should notice:

How your best leaders handle pressure or conflict
Where weaker leaders lose people's confidence
What communication styles actually land

You're essentially doing an apprenticeship in Real time!

Here's a Core Mindset Shift ...

Old model: Leaders lead, followers just obey.

Better model: Followership is active, skilled, and the foundation of leadership.

Robert Kelley's research on followership found that outcomes in organizations are driven more by followers than leaders. That the best teams are full of people who take initiative, think critically, and align with purpose.

Those people become the most effective leaders.

In other words, master the craft of being where you are now, and leadership becomes a natural extension and not a sudden transformation.

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Be a good leader by first being a good follower