Can a leader also be a follower?

A common misbelief is that a follower is merely a ‘sheep’, however, a follower can make or break a leader. Good followers will support their leader, but, not blindly, they have the courage to tell their leader when things are going sideways. For leaders to excel in leadership they have to learn how to be good followers. A leader who follows learns how to read people and understand their needs and what motivates them. This means the leader is aware of how to bring colleagues, co-workers, customers and board members together, which is very crucial for any organization. As a follower, a leader learns how to embrace others who have different beliefs, this enables the leader not to look ignorant towards what those around him/her are feeling. This will also eliminate unnecessary disagreements and foster good working conditions. A leader who can follow others understands the importance of collaboration and teamwork. They know how to bring the best out of every individual in order to produce a collective team effort. For anyone to be a leader they must be prepared to follow, regardless of the level of leadership they are in.