abhishreshthaa
Abhijeet S
Factors of Good Follower ship
It is said that to be a good leader it is necessary to be a good follower. We must therefore, understand and appreciate the factors of good followership to be able to be both as good team members as well as good leaders. These are analyzed in the following paragraphs.
Hierarchism.
With proliferation of professional education and tendency towards nuclear families, people today tend to be 'anti hierarchism'. This can also be viewed as attributable to the fragmentation of the mind. Hierarchism is a natural phenomenon. A look at the cosmic universe shows an inherent hierarchism starting from amoebae to plants, trees and ending up with the human being.
If looked at in a more physical sense, we see a distinct hierarchical consciousness from the high mountain peak to the plains, to the sea and into the deep-sea bed. In the context of followership, the essence is to understand the sequence.
The elder brother or elder member, for instance, should have his role not in terms of authority or power or privilege but in terms of duty, responsibility and sacrifice. The younger members on their part are expected to reciprocate by their loyalty, obedience and respect. In a large percentage of Indian homes this approach is by itself a mode or basis of conflict management.
Hierarchy can be viewed both in the structural sense (function of status or position in the Organization) and as a function of age, also called the familial hierarchy. Familial hierarchy, in fact, leaves no scope for dilemma as it is permanent and cannot be tampered with. It is in fact invaluable as no vested interest or perverted management can manipulate it. This, therefore, explains the reason for unions tending to contest any other form of career growth.
Obedience.
A factor, which needs very little explanation as it is the basic ingredient of an organized system. It is not uncommon for individuals to link their levels of obedience to perceived aspects to self-respect Obedience as highlighted here would therefore, call for a certain measure of ego management. It is not being advocated that obedience extends to servility but if viewed in the fight of the demands of hierarchism it should be a vehicle for problem prevention.
Obedience should be seen as directed to a symbol, which also therefore, brings iii the aspect that the symbol (the person to whom the obedience is directed) should also live up to the expectations of the younger or junior members. This would also dictate the need for detaching the person and seeing only the symbol, the senior member represents.
Rights and Rituals.
These are inherent to the routine functioning of any group or Organization and they tend to be utilized in the right manner for development of good relationships. There are two elements that go together in the performance of a right or ritual, namely that any right or ritual has a disciplined, step by step sequential process and also that when rights and rituals are done collectively, it produces a sense of commonness amongst the members.
In an organization, if we commence the day with physical exercise in which all members, from the lowest member in the hierarchy to the top most executive take part, then we bring in a sense of commonness. Common actions will finally result in a habit being formed. The point that needs to be remembered in this regard is that the right or ritual would be both ethical, value based and oriented to common good.
Chastisement.
This again has cosmic reference point Ancient seers could see two facets in the universe, one of law (niyam) and one of joy (anandam). In the cosmic state, the law lays down the boundary within which there is joy, but if this boundary is crossed then you are liable I to be punished. To the member of the group this would imply the need to remain within the boundary and enjoy the attendant joy or, anandam.
To the elder or senior member, chastisement which is inevitable if the junior member crosses the boundary should be the last resort. While performing the action of chastisement the need to be stemmed is never in doubt but the internal, non-visible state should be of compassion. 'While the hand is hitting, the heart should be bleeding!' is the advice that Bhismha gave Yudhistra in his famous Anushashan Parva or guidelines on administration.
It is said that to be a good leader it is necessary to be a good follower. We must therefore, understand and appreciate the factors of good followership to be able to be both as good team members as well as good leaders. These are analyzed in the following paragraphs.
Hierarchism.
With proliferation of professional education and tendency towards nuclear families, people today tend to be 'anti hierarchism'. This can also be viewed as attributable to the fragmentation of the mind. Hierarchism is a natural phenomenon. A look at the cosmic universe shows an inherent hierarchism starting from amoebae to plants, trees and ending up with the human being.
If looked at in a more physical sense, we see a distinct hierarchical consciousness from the high mountain peak to the plains, to the sea and into the deep-sea bed. In the context of followership, the essence is to understand the sequence.
The elder brother or elder member, for instance, should have his role not in terms of authority or power or privilege but in terms of duty, responsibility and sacrifice. The younger members on their part are expected to reciprocate by their loyalty, obedience and respect. In a large percentage of Indian homes this approach is by itself a mode or basis of conflict management.
Hierarchy can be viewed both in the structural sense (function of status or position in the Organization) and as a function of age, also called the familial hierarchy. Familial hierarchy, in fact, leaves no scope for dilemma as it is permanent and cannot be tampered with. It is in fact invaluable as no vested interest or perverted management can manipulate it. This, therefore, explains the reason for unions tending to contest any other form of career growth.
Obedience.
A factor, which needs very little explanation as it is the basic ingredient of an organized system. It is not uncommon for individuals to link their levels of obedience to perceived aspects to self-respect Obedience as highlighted here would therefore, call for a certain measure of ego management. It is not being advocated that obedience extends to servility but if viewed in the fight of the demands of hierarchism it should be a vehicle for problem prevention.
Obedience should be seen as directed to a symbol, which also therefore, brings iii the aspect that the symbol (the person to whom the obedience is directed) should also live up to the expectations of the younger or junior members. This would also dictate the need for detaching the person and seeing only the symbol, the senior member represents.
Rights and Rituals.
These are inherent to the routine functioning of any group or Organization and they tend to be utilized in the right manner for development of good relationships. There are two elements that go together in the performance of a right or ritual, namely that any right or ritual has a disciplined, step by step sequential process and also that when rights and rituals are done collectively, it produces a sense of commonness amongst the members.
In an organization, if we commence the day with physical exercise in which all members, from the lowest member in the hierarchy to the top most executive take part, then we bring in a sense of commonness. Common actions will finally result in a habit being formed. The point that needs to be remembered in this regard is that the right or ritual would be both ethical, value based and oriented to common good.
Chastisement.
This again has cosmic reference point Ancient seers could see two facets in the universe, one of law (niyam) and one of joy (anandam). In the cosmic state, the law lays down the boundary within which there is joy, but if this boundary is crossed then you are liable I to be punished. To the member of the group this would imply the need to remain within the boundary and enjoy the attendant joy or, anandam.
To the elder or senior member, chastisement which is inevitable if the junior member crosses the boundary should be the last resort. While performing the action of chastisement the need to be stemmed is never in doubt but the internal, non-visible state should be of compassion. 'While the hand is hitting, the heart should be bleeding!' is the advice that Bhismha gave Yudhistra in his famous Anushashan Parva or guidelines on administration.