20 September 2000 Five steps to followership By Maj. As a student at Army Command and General Staff College, I was exposed to numerous views and opinions on leadership.
Articles written about leadership usually contain a list of attributes that make a good leader.
They usually provide good advice for the chosen few who will some day command troops or direct large organizations. They became the starting point for my own rules for good followership. This is the single most important characteristic of a good follower. In a world of growing complexity, leaders are increasingly dependent upon their subordinates for good information whether the leaders want to hear it or not. Followers who tell the truth, and leaders who listen to it, are an unbeatable combination.