Communication for leading and following
In a previous post about following and leading, I examined the roles of leader and follower. Here I want to zoom in on what makes a good follower-leader relationship.
Like all relationships, it is all about communication. We only know about the other person what they say and what they do. We cannot know what they think and feel. Some kind of communication is needed to fill this gap, if we are to act to achieve a shared purpose.
If I can feel something that another person cannot, but which may impact my team's ability to perform, I need to translate that feeling into communication. For example, if I have been working close to my limit and need a break, I need to clearly communicate this, so others can adapt and perhaps offer constructive help.
All of this communication must happen in a timely manner, without disrupting the flow of action. The aim is that both follower and leader are able to incorporate easily into the flow of action any new information communicated to them by the other.
Which channel is used for communication is not important, as long as it is effective. An effective channel must exist before communication can take place. Ensuring leaders and followers can confidently operate the chosen channel is a pre-requisite to establishing any kind of relationship.
What kinds of communication make a great relationship?
Communication about direction and speed of travel must take place continuously. We don’t want leader and followers drifting apart or getting in each other's way. When this happens an extra effort is needed to realign everyone and set off again; time and energy is lost. For this reason, the leader's job is at all times to communicate direction and speed clearly, and the follower's job is at all times to move in the direction and at the speed indicated by their leader, to the best of their ability. If the leader's indication was not clear, it's the follower's responsibility to ask for clarification.
At the same time, follower and leader need to communicate to each other what freedom of movement is available to them at that moment. Freedom may be limited by ability - for example, a less experienced person may not be able to carry out a given task as fast as a more experienced person. Or it may be limited by external circumstances - for example, a change in resources available to the team (literally 'room for maneuver'). Communication must be clear and swift: sooner or later circumstances change, perhaps suddenly. We need to update plans even as we carry them out.
In a well-functioning relationship follower and leader also communicate a lot about emphasis - what to highlight as we do our work. This is done within the frame of direction and speed given by the leader. The choice of emphasis impacts how we perceive our actions and also how they are perceived by others. Here a leader may impose their idea, or may give space for the follower to fill in emphasis. Either way the communication must be timely and clear.
Beyond these topics, leaders should regularly check in with followers about the common purpose they share. Is it still clear? Has it been superseded?
This is not an exhaustive list of what great follower and leaders communicate to each other, but a sketch of the most important aspects. What ways do you use to communicate to your leaders? To your followers? Please leave a comment.