Followership Program

Complementing the leaders’ role with effective followership is critical. With so much attention on the importance of effective leadership, it can be all too easy to forget that exceptional leadership requires people who willingly support their leader as they pursue success together.

Program Summary

Using the principles of followership that Professor R. Kelley of Carnegie Mellon University introduced in his book “The Power of Followership”, you will learn how to build mutual trust with leaders through practicing proven communication techniques that help followers contribute to their leaders and team.

Through a series of simulated business situations, you will learn how to build a trusting relationship with leaders and apply proactive communication techniques to improve your performance in ways that align with your leaders’ success.

Target Audience

  • Anyone who wants to increase their performance while also raising awareness of their team contributions.
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to collaborate well with leaders and other team members.

Program Outcomes

  • Increase your performance and overall contribution to your team
  • Stronger rapport and influence with leaders in your organization
  • Earn a reputation as a skilled collaborator and team player

Available formats

This program can be delivered in-person and online

Learning Objectives

  • Build constructive relationships with leaders and take personal initiative for the organization’s success
  • Understand the attributes of effective followership
  • Learn specific skills to enhance your contribution as a follower
  • Practice communicating with different types of leaders
  • Create an action plan to make a greater contribution to your team and your leader

Classroom Training

Virtual Training

Learning methods and tools

The program centers on experiential learning and uses a wide variety of group exercises for applying and practicing skills including:

  • Online self-paced prework
  • Individual reflection
  • Pair, small group and classroom discussion via breakout rooms
  • Role plays and real plays
  • Personal action planning

Pre-program work

  • Self-paced online video content
  • Learn assertiveness skills
Session 1

What is a good follower?

  • What is followership?
  • Understand different followership styles
  • Exercise: Talk about the organization's direction in your own words
Session 2

Applied Followership

  • Know the four types of leaders
  • Building trusting relationships
  • How to interact with leaders based on how they delegate to you
Session 3

Applied Followership, continued

  • Advise leaders assertively

Post-program work

Post-program assignment

  • Developing an action plan

Learning methods and tools

This program centers on experiential learning and uses a wide variety of group exercises for applying and practicing skills including:

  • Individual reflection
  • Pair, small group and classroom discussion
  • Role plays and real plays
  • Personal action planning
Day 1
  • Understand what followership is and how it works
  • Understand the attributes and behaviors of effective followers
  • Experience how to build constructive relationships with leaders
  • Prepare for putting effective followership into practice on the job
Day 2
  • Use followership style to complement a leader's shortcomings
  • Build trust through effective communication
  • Practice implementing followership on the job