To Be a Great Leader, Become a Great Follower

This tip is adapted from “The Best Leaders Are Great Followers,” by Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Amy Edmondson and is from Harvard Business Review.

People often think leadership is about presence, direction, and decision-making. But the longer I work with senior teams, the clearer it becomes: the best leaders are also great followers.

Not “followers” as in passive; followers as in disciplined contributors to clarity, execution, and truth.

I turned a short video from a Harvard Business Review piece into a practical reflection for managers and executives:

Active listening (real listening = ego suspended)

Purpose over credit (outcomes > theatrics)

Reliable execution (strategy without delivery is wishful thinking)

Invite pushback (challenge sharpens decisions)

Stay coachable (feedback is fuel)

If you want stronger leadership in your team, don’t only train “leaders.” Train followership; because that’s where maturity, accountability, and performance compound.