They are two sides to the same coin.  You don’t have one without the other.  Both sides have their strengths and their non-strengths.  In the Gallup literature on strengths, one of their recent books touches on this subject of leaders and followers:  Strengths Based Leadership.  Take a look at the five things that strong teams have in common (p.71f).  Here is a teaser.  Number five is that they are a magnet for talent.  As you read on you learn about the four basic needs of followers.  This has something noteworthy to say to every leader (p.82f):  trust, compassion, stability, and hope.  Reflect on your own leadership.  Which of these four is your #1 strength as you lead followers?  Which of these four is your #1 non-strength?  Not sure?  Ask your followers.  Then begin the hard work of personal change.  Then you will become a more effective leader, and they will become more effective followers.

Dick Daniels

President, The Leadership Development Group