Leadership Comparatives:
Follower Leadership (Followership) Theory: An oxymoron within itself, this leadership style is driven by the ability of the leader to think as the follower in order to better serve as a leader. This leadership style implies a perceived role reversal based on job duties and functions. However, Hickman 2016, defined follwership as “the nature and impact of followers and following in the leadership process” (p. 137). Meaning, the followers are as much influences as the role of the leader, thus self-leaders.
Servant Leadership Theory: A questionable infusion. This theory explains leadership based on the direction of the focus of attention. Greenleaf wrote “based on the premise that leaders who are best able to motivate followers are those who focus least on satisfying their own personal needs and most on prioritizing the fulfillment of followers’ needs” (as cited by Linden, Wayne, Liao, & Meuser, 2014, pg. 1434). This theory encompasses the idea that
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According to Oxhenham 2014, followers are leadable because of the level of respect, admiration, and loyalty held for the leader. Simply put, charismatic leadership is contingent on trust.
One consistent similarity among the three leadership styles is the contingency of the relationship. For instance, in both follower and servant leadership styles, the overall performance and amounts of activity as well as the success of the leader is determined by the level and type of interaction reciprocated from the leader. Contrarily, all of these types of leadership differ in the way and purpose for garnering authority and respect. For example, servant leadership a relationship may be formed between the leader and the follower for the sole purpose of increasing performance.
Hickman, G. R. (2016). Leading organizations: Perspectives for a new era (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage