THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOLLOWERS TRAITS & VALUES & LEADERS PERFORMANCE

In any organization, interaction between leaders and followers is very important since it determines how effective the leadership will be ensuring that the established relationship between the two serves the intended purpose. If the characteristics of the leader and the follower results to mutual benefit and support, a lot can be achieved. The characteristics dynamisms of both parties have to find harmony and a common purpose since they are in need of each other so as to work together in accomplishing the goals that have been set in the organization (Guay, 2011).  Being a good leader requires a person to be a good follower, so that he can understand the behavior of a follower and why they react in a certain way. For the leadership to be effective there has to be a link between the leader’s trait and follower’s traits which is enabled by some specific situational factors.  When traits of both individuals revolve around sociability, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, regardless of the specific factors in a given situation, the influence of leadership can be felt (Northouse, 2016). If the characteristics of the leader and those of a follower can find a common ground in a specific situation so that trust, authenticity and support are established, the style of leadership adopted will be very effective. Leaders have to trust the followers to perform their tasks while followers have to trust the leaders to make the right decision. Authentic leaders will be ethical and balanced in regard to decision making while followers’ authenticity is seen self –regulation and such an interaction creates an environment for positive outcomes. Majority of the characteristics in the interaction between the leader and the follower results from support that each gives the other in any situation (Guay, 2011).

Challenges that may emanate from such interactions can attributed to change in situational factors and hence the behavior of the follower. Changes in followers behavior is due to the fact that they have needs and these needs are not constant but change in relation to different situational factors. These factors determine the kind of leadership style to be adopted by the leader and if such behaviors are not supportive to the follower, a problem in leadership effectiveness arises (Guay, 2011). If the style of leadership treats the follower as only a physical being while disregarding their emotional being, it will results to a different behavior that requires the leader to adjust again. For the followers to respect the leadership, they have to observe traits in their leader that makes them feel motivated or appreciated. The other challenge relates to the fact that followers are many and have diverse characteristics. This means that while the characteristics of the leader and those of some followers may find a common ground or a link, such a link may not be common for all the followers (Derue, Nahrgang, Wellman & Humphrey, 2011). The challenge is how the leader will find a connection with all the followers under different situations.

To address the first challenge, leaders have to have to adapt to a situational approach in the leadership style so that it matches with the commitment and competence of their followers.  Effective leadership involves recognizing the needs of the followers and adopting the style to meet those needs (Northouse, 2016). For the second challenge, have to strive to close the widening gap created between them and followers by diverse traits and situations.

Reference

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice  . Sage Publications. 7. Ed

Guay, R. P. (2011). Igniting the fire between leaders and followers: The impact of having the right fit.

 

Derue, D. S., Nahrgang, J. D., Wellman, N. E. D., & Humphrey, S. E. (2011). Trait and behavioral theories of leadership: An integration and meta‐analytic test of their relative validity. Personnel psychology, 64(1), 7-52.