Leaders and Followers styles ... best fit 1/2

I took the high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid last summer on a day when it was very hot. As the midday sun beat down on the outside, I went to the lunch wagon to get something to drink.

To my surprise, the wagon was mostly empty, except for a young family with a kid and a single young woman who was reading a book. "Leader Style and Follower Style" was the phrase that caught my eye. I couldn't help but start talking to the young lady because I've always been interested in how leadership and followership interact.

I got up the courage to say "Excuse me" in English with a heavy French accent. "I have read a lot about leadership, but I’ve seen less something about follower styles."

The girl looked up from her book, smiled, and spoke to me in French. As we talked, I found out that she was from Belgium and a doctoral student at La Salle University in Barcelona. She was studying the intricacies of leadership and followership. She seemed happy to find someone who was interested in what she did and wanted to talk with her.

Even though it was so hot, I wore a tie and a suit. She probably assumed I was a very important person.

She began to tell me, and at the same time, she began to draw pictures on a napkin.

"Leadership and followership are two sides of the same coin," Klara said. "Without followers, leaders cannot lead, and without leadership, followers cannot achieve their goals. While there are many different types of leadership styles, each style may be more or less effective depending on the characteristics of the followers and the situation in which the leadership is taking place."

"My question is, which kind of followers prefer which kind of leaders?" I asked.

"First, I will focus on some types of followers and some types of leaders," Klara replied, "and then I will explain my match as I mentioned in my work."

She continued: There are many different types of leadership styles, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most common styles include autocratic, democratic, transformational, transactional and servant leadership.

Autocratic leadership is characterized by a leader who makes all the decisions and expects strict obedience from followers. This style may be effective in situations where quick decisions are needed or where the leader has superior knowledge or expertise.

Democratic leadership is characterized by a leader who encourages participation and input from followers. This style may be effective in situations where collaboration and buy-in from followers are important, and where the leader does not have all the knowledge or expertise needed to make decisions.

Transformational leadership is characterized by a leader who inspires and motivates followers to achieve a shared vision or goal. This style may be effective in situations where the leader needs to create a sense of purpose and enthusiasm among followers and where followers need to be empowered to take the initiative and innovate.

Transactional leadership is a style in which a leader focuses on achieving specific goals through a system of rewards and punishments for performance. This style emphasizes a clear chain of command and structured systems to ensure that goals are met. This type of leaders provides feedback and direction to their followers, outlining expectations and providing rewards or punishment based on performance. This style is efficient in situations where clear goals need to be met, and a structured system is necessary to ensure that these goals are achieved.

Servant leadership is characterized by a leader who prioritizes the needs and interests of followers above their own. This style may be effective in situations where the leader needs to build trust and loyalty among followers and where followers need to feel supported and valued to perform at their best.

However, it's important to note that no one leadership style is ideal for all situations. “

She looked at me and tried to guess if I would leave right away. I thought, "The most interesting part will come next." I really wanted to hear from the second group, the followers, and find out how the two groups were connected. But I knew that she had to explain both parts in the larger context before.

I asked, "Could you please explain what you mean by "follower styles"?"

She was glad to see that I was interested and said, "There are many kinds of followers, but they can be grouped into six main types: conformist, passive, independent, alienated, active, and engaged.

Conformist followers are those who follow the leader's directions without question. They are typically motivated by the desire for security and belonging, and they value obedience and loyalty to the leader or group.

Passive followers are those who do not take an active role in following the leader. They may be disengaged or apathetic, and they may lack the motivation or skills needed to contribute effectively to the group.

Independent followers are those who are self-directed and seek to influence the leader or group in order to achieve their own goals. They are typically motivated by the desire for autonomy and mastery, and they value creativity and innovation.

Alienated followers are those who feel disconnected from the leader or group and may actively oppose the leader's goals or methods. They are typically motivated by the desire for recognition and respect, and they may value justice and fairness above obedience and loyalty.

Active followers are highly committed to achieving a shared goal with their leader or organization. They take a proactive role in their work and are willing to challenge their leader constructively to achieve better results. Active followers also tend to have a positive attitude towards their leader and the organization, and they are more likely to support their leader's decisions and directions.

Engaged followers, on the other hand, are employees who are emotionally invested in their work and are willing to go above and beyond what is expected of them. Engaged followers are committed to the organization's goals and values and feel a sense of purpose and fulfilment in their work. They are also more likely to stay with the organization for a long time and to recommend it to others.

While there is some overlap between the two concepts, the main difference is that active followers are focused on achieving a specific goal or objective, whereas engaged followers are more broadly committed to the organization as a whole. In other words, active followers are goal-oriented, while engaged followers are more relationship-oriented. “

When the train's speaker told us that we would arrive in Madrid in 10 minutes, she started to hurry up. She wanted to finish her statement by saying, "Leadership and following go together." But there wasn't enough time.

I suggested that we get a café con leche and churro at the Café de Oriente in front of the Royal Palace. I really want to know how the story ends and which types of leaders and followers work best together. As she talked, I thought of a few different European leaders from the last three or four years. I wanted her to know how I felt about them and got also her feedback.

When we got to Madrid, we got off the train quickly and headed toward the Royal Palace.

The end of the story is next month:)