sponsorship – Embracing Followership

Despite being originally described by Robert Greenleaf in 1977, the concept of ‘servant leadership’ remains a popular consideration in the modern exploration of organizational dynamics. This bears out in my own experience: by far the most popular post on this website is our feature exploring Servant Leadership & Excellent Followership.

I’ll be delivering a seminar in a few weeks on the notion of being a follower through the lens of being a leader. Part VI of my book Embracing Followership: How to Thrive in a Leader-Centric Culture is dedicated to this topic, and I find my thinking continuing to both expand and refine in this area. Continue reading “Excellent Leadership through Servant Followership” →

The notion of servant leadership has been en vogue in recent decades, fueled in part by Robert Greenleaf publishing his classic text in 1977. Given our cultural fascination with leadership, and our desire to imbue the concept of leadership with as many positive qualities as possible (see, “Leader: the ideal human being?“), it’s not surprising that the combination of leadership and servanthood became a popular notion.

As the idea of followership continues to be explored in more recent years, it’s worthwhile to consider how excellent followership and servant leadership are the same or different. Are they simply two perspectives on the same characteristics? Or is there an important distinction that should be part of our consideration? Continue reading “Servant Leadership & Excellent Followership” →

Endorsements

“Embracing Followership is well-written and well-thought out. The accessible language and clear categories make an otherwise nuanced topic easy to wrap your mind around. It is a necessary read for leaders as much as followers

― Dr Tom Lambshead, executive coach

“Embracing Followership may be among the top 10 most fresh, provocatively insightful expressions of what kind of thinking can ‘set the readers free’ from mindless cultural expectations on us that we’ve unconsciously imbibed.

― Greg Livingstone, founder, Frontiers

“Embracing Followership challenged and changed me—one of the rare books that can challenge your worldview and make you glad you read it. Allen manages to exalt followers without disparaging leaders, proving the unique value of each and providing practical steps to move us toward the mutually beneficial place of respect and value for the contributions … Continue reading T.J. MacLeslie, author, Designed for Relationship

― T.J. MacLeslie, author, Designed for Relationship

“All too often we forget that strong leadership implies that people are following. This is an excellent treatment of a topic that is mostly ignored. Just about anybody can benefit from reading this book.”

― Dr. Ted Esler, president, Missio Nexus

Read more reflections about Embracing Followership on the Endorsements page.