A Few Tips For Leaders to Attract Followers

We often think that the world can be neatly divided into two groups' i.e. leaders and followers. Nothing can be farther from the truth as most people are neither leaders nor followers. They are simply individuals who follow their own path. They are their own leaders and they have no desire to become either leader or follower. Then there are many, who are leaders as well as followers. They are leaders in one field while follower in other fields.

Who wants to follow in this world where everyone is interested in only becoming a leader?

It is as difficult to follow a person as it is difficult to lead people. Every man has a free will and he finds it difficult to surrender his freedom of making decisions to anyone. Hence, for most people, it is more difficult to follow than to lead.

If you wish to lead the people, you must have followers. Mark Brouwer said, "A man is only a leader when a follower stands beside him". Most people fail to become leaders not because they are not competent to become leader or that they do not have the qualities of a leader, but they fail since they fail to attract followers or their followers do not stand by them.

How can there be a leader without followers?

Therefore, if you wish to lead, you must ensure that people shall follow you. In order to ensure that people follow you, try to put yourself in the shoes of the follower. Just imagine that you are a follower and a person is exhorting you to follow him. You are busy in your job. You have to earn your living and take care of your family. Why should you follow a person? You are surely not interested in the interest of the leader.

Everyone is interested in achieving their own objectives. You may follow a leader only if you are likely to get some benefits by following the leader.

Therefore, you must be able to play the role of both the leader and the follower in your mind. There must be a discussion and even an argument in your mind where things must be discussed from the point of view of the leader as well as the followers.

You must however, remember that people have different values. Hence do not expect people to follow you simply because you are following an ethical path. Though people are attracted towards the people with values, they must get some benefit by following a leader. These benefits may not be material alone as human beings have other requirements like appreciation, recognition etc. However, no one would follow another person unless he finds some definite benefit in it.

As the next step you must again think as leader and ask yourself if you can really ensure some benefits to your followers.

The answer to this question depends upon how much the chances of your success are. Why should anyone believe in your success? Do you have some track record of success? Have you ever succeeded in such venture or such mission in the past which should reassure the followers in sacrificing their person interest for your mission?

Depending upon what you offer, you are likely to get followers. Suppose your leadership enables them to become more prosperous, you may get people who desire money. Similarly, if you wish to offer them peace, enjoyment and happiness, people who are restless and unhappy are likely to follow. If you promise to give the people respect and recognition, you can expect following from the people who are neglected in the society.

Unless you are extremely creative and lucky, in all likelihood there must already to people who must be leaders in that area. For example, if you promise to remove poverty in your country, there could have been a large number of leaders before you who would have already made these promises to the people. They might have failed the people and the people might have lost hope in such promises. You have to think, why people should trust your promise. What is so unique in your scheme that has never been tested yet that can assure people that you shall succeed while others have failed?

In reality, the leaders and followers are not separate but share the same vision. They come together to attain a common objective. They fulfill each other's need by combining the talents and resources of a large number of people. Leaders must show them the way to success.