How Leaders Can Protect The Interest Of Their Followers
How do you know if your leader is protecting the interests of his or her followers? Followers will generally support or reject a leader based upon their personality, their passions, and their actions. For instance, many physicians who worked on the development of Vioxx felt invested in the drug and defended its use, despite the serious side effects. These physicians were driven by their passions and interests and not by the demands of their senior managers.
In addition to fostering a sense of ownership, effective leadership also protects the interests of followers. It is important to monitor work and constantly strive for improvement. Good leaders must be enthusiastic about their work. Leaders must have a contagious enthusiasm and be visible to their followers. Leaders can inspire their followers by displaying enthusiasm. This will create a positive working environment and ensure everyone is productive.
Good followers spend their time and energy making informed judgments about leaders and then they act accordingly. Although the leadership industry would like you to believe that there is a one-sided relationship between superiors, subordinates, this is not true. All followers are not created equal. They will follow the leader they like or reject. They also claim commanding voices in the hierarchy for themselves.
These characteristics can also be a double-edged sword. Leaders who are too assertive may alienate their followers, while leaders who build relationships may have a difficult time telling their followers when they aren’t doing their job. To maintain the interests of all stakeholders, leaders should adapt their behavior accordingly. It is crucial for leaders to be able to deflect criticism and implement solutions during difficult times. No matter what leadership style you have, understanding the needs and wants of your followers is essential.
Leaders need to be aware that their personality and other characteristics can hinder their ability to lead. Leaders must also accept these characteristics and work to improve them. It may not be easy but it will pay off. The following are examples of how leaders can protect the interests of their followers. There are several characteristics that make a leader effective:
Objectivity is an important trait in dealing with external issues, as well as in monitoring their own objectivity. People who are optimistic often fail to see the dangers lurking. They can’t be objective and see only the negative aspects of a seemingly positive situation. This attitude can lead to serious problems. If you’re a leader, you should be able to monitor your own objectivity and stay focused on the bigger picture.