Three Types of Followers

Mark Brouwer said, "A man is only a leader when a follower stands beside him." There can be no leader without followers. It seems that everyone wishes to be only a leader and every leader is looking for followers. But where are the followers? How do we identify them? How do we find them?

Every man is born free as individual. He likes to maintain his individuality and freedom. Yet man being a social animal has to surrender some of his power in the interest of the society. It is never easy to be a follower. A follower has to surrender his decision-making power to the leader. Even a common citizen in a democratic country allows the leader to take decisions on his behalf by electing the party or individual.

Thus leaders and followers are integrated in the structure of human civilization. However, all followers are not same. We can classify the followers in the three categories.

1. Voter Follower

The simplest level of following, a leader can get is the voter in democracy. The leaders do not know their voters as their number is large, yet their votes decide who leader should be. The voters are the individuals who have decided to give their support to the leader and give them the right to represent themselves. They do not have any commitment for the leader. They may not even know the leader personally. Yet they vote for the best leader as part of their duty.

They know that every individual has to make a choice of the leader. If the person does not decide by casting his vote, others shall elect leaders who have the power to rule them. It is evident from the voting pattern of most of the democratic country that half the population doesn't vote as they are just not interested who the leader of the country shall be. They prefer to lead themselves as they do not see the need of a leader to represent themselves. Most people do not vote in peace time as they can protect themselves in their society. However, when the society is passing through crisis, almost everyone vote as they need the leaders to sail through the troubled times. Even in the organisation, most people do not like to be associated with leaders as they can rise purely based on their professional competence. They are happy to be independent and they often vote for the person they know personally or the one who seeks their vote.

2. Customer Follower

A normal voter has no specific preference of a leader and he may not know anyone individually. Usually he does not expect much from the leader in return of his vote. However, some voters are like customers who have a need. They have chosen to vote for a as they have some expectation from them in return of their support. Thus, they have a professional relationship with the leader. Anyone who can fulfill their requirement is their leader. They do not vote for ideologies but for their own selfish interest. They can very well go to the other leader offering his vote if he promises to fulfill their needs. They have no loyalty or liking for the leader but only uses leader to accomplish their goals. They are, thus like a customer who buys the product in the market which given them the best value of their money.

3. Loyal Followers

Most leaders are dynamic people with charismatic personality. Their leadership is based on certain ideologies which attract the people towards them. They are often great orators and intelligent people. No wonder, they attract a number of admirers from the people who like their leader for their vision and charisma. They are attracted towards the leader for the personality. They love them and develop loyalty for them. These loyal followers are committed followers who develop a special loving relationship with their leader. They may vote their leader irrespective of the qualities of their opponent. They attend their rallies, read their speeches and discuss their visions amongst themselves. They have high regards for their leader and they have high hopes from their leader. However, unlike the customer, they do not seek anything for themselves, but they have faith on the vision and philosophy of their leaders. They wish and pray for the success of their leaders.

A leader should not assess his strength on the basis of the followers who are mere voters or customers. They can change their loyalty anytime and go with the rival leaders. The genuine followers are those who have loyalty towards the leader. They are the people who stand by their leader in his thick and thin. They are the real strength of the leader. A leader must take care of the loyal followers more than others if he wishes to retain his leadership.