Why Do People Follow?

Posted on February 05, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

If you want to lead, it is critical to know what your people need and expect from you. To explore why people choose to follow, Gallup conducted a formal study to explore this topic. The study revealed that followers have a very clear (and common) picture of what they want, and need, from their leaders.

** The study revealed 4 basic needs that followers have – they are TRUST, COMPASSION, STABILITY, and HOPE. Lets explore each of these a little deeper:

TRUST – Followers will not tolerate dishonesty. At any level, trust is the “do or die” foundation for leading effectively. Gallup found that when there is a high level of trust in the leader, the organization’s speed and efficiency greatly increases. Another striking observation was how little successful teams talked about trust, while the topic of “trust’ dominated the discussion of struggling teams.

COMPASSION – Successful leaders clearly care for each of their employees. Gallup found that when a companies employees “feel” cared for, they are 1) Significantly more likely to stay with the organization, 2) Have many more “engaged” customers, 3) Are substantially more productive, and 4) Produce more profits for the organization.

STABILITY – Followers want a leader to provide a solid foundation. At a company-wide level, nothing creates stability as quickly as transparency. Followers need a sense of confidence about where their career is headed, and how the organization is doing financially.

HOPE – This higher level need has an interesting challenge; it appears that followers want stability in the moment - and hope for the future. Hope gives followers something to look forward to, and it helps them see a way through the chaos and complexity. If as a leader, you are not creating hope and helping people see the way forward, chances are, no one else is either.