Aristotle said, He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.

Following does not mean randomly and mindlessly following everything being said.

Followership is the process to learn what is the right thing to follow with the flexibility of making mistakes.

Here we are talking about followers, who can separate themselves from the pack and prepare to be leaders in the future.

Few ways to be a great follower:

• You are not a follower, you are leader-in-training

Always remember your goal. Learn everything to lead. Follow the process to take control by becoming an expert in it. Follow strategies so that you know which is right and which needs to be changed.

Be a self-leader by taking ownership of the task allotted to you.

• Teamwork

The main skill of a leader is people management. Start team building and influencing acts while working in a team of followers.

Start your personal leadership journey by always showcasing a ‘we’ attitude within the team.

• Don't wait for commands

We used the word self-leader earlier. They don't need to be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. They just get things done.

• Focus on what you follow, not who

The best followers don't just follow a leader; they follow the leader's mission or vision. The leader is but an embodiment of that purpose.

Be an advocate of a mission, that is bigger than you or bigger than any leader. This perspective allows you the best leadership traits along with the humility to see past yourself.

When you're following with leadership intent, followership is the best phase to be in as true leaders are prepared there.

Are you a follower or a leader?