The First Follower is a Leader Too...
I was once employed as a member of an executive team for a mid-sized private security firm that held several government and corporate accounts. It was a great company for which to work – with a heart-centered leader who put people first.
The President of the firm believed – as do I – it necessary for executives to be regularly seen in the field, so we each took our turn in the trenches… which sets the stage for this story.
On this particular day, I partnered with a young lady as she patrolled the perimeter of a large automotive proving ground. During this shift, I listened to this young woman as she spoke randomly on various subjects. I got the sense that she was very bright, confident, and focused, yet when the conversation turned toward her job satisfaction, she was pensive. 
This concerned me. As a leader, I want my team to be happy and to succeed. So I asked a few more questions in an effort to gently allow her to speak her mind more comfortably.  I soon discovered that this young lady was frustrated by her first-line supervisor. More correctly, she was frustrated by his execution of plans and ideas. 
The young lady stated that her supervisor was brilliant at devising plans of action and a superior tactical thinker, but his organizational and communication skills left much to be desired. She believed that she had the ability to execute his plans better than he did.
A few more questions brought to light the real problem. She felt that the quality of her work and the skills that she brings to the table would go unnoticed as long as her supervisor’s poor execution brought mediocre results. She felt she would never get promoted serving on his team.  

I immediately saw this as an opportunity to turn around her thinking, challenge her skills, and serve her on a deeper level. 

I suggested to her, that if she wanted recognition for her skills and abilities – to be seen as leadership material – to become the first volunteer. I suggested that she be the first to volunteer for her supervisors directives, and then support his weaker organizational skills by handling those details for him. I suggested that by being the first to volunteer, she put herself in position to take a portion of command and showcase her skills by ensuring a better outcome to a plan. 
This, in turn, will attract the attention of mid-level supervisors and the executive team. Done properly, you will increase your value to the point where the company would suffer in effectiveness if it didn’t promote you.

I still use that same piece of advice today. When I’m training or coaching an aspiring leader – or someone who is looking for advancement – I remind them to be the first to volunteer. 


This thinking is not new. However it has become quite popular in leadership circles over the last decade or so. It has become commonly – and quite appropriately – known as the “First Follower Theory”.

The First Follower theory is very well explained in this article on Whatis.com 

It states, “First follower theory is the concept that attracting an adherent to some kind of view or initiative is the first step toward beginning a movement that might seem unusual or out-of-step with the surrounding culture to the general population.”
“The first follower is considered to be as important to the development of a movement as the initiator because they make the leader’s viewpoint seem more credible. Derek Sivers introduced first follower theory at the 2010 TED (technology, entertainment, design) conference.” 
“According Sivers, the first follower is what transforms an individual with a unique idea into a leader. The first follower risks ridicule in the same way that the initiator does. Once a single person follows the initiative, however, it becomes less risky for others to join. Eventually, as enough people join, it becomes riskier to stay on the sidelines than to become part of the movement.” 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

The young lady in my story followed my advice. She began to step up to the plate and take charge of projects. She gained the respect of her team members, her supervisor, and the executive team when the metrics showed remarkable improvement in the effectiveness of her team. 
Soon, she was appointed “Team Leader” and began a new journey. She did this not because of my advice, but because she made a change within herself that created a change in the norm. 


Leaders who understand the importance of the “First Follower Theory” often use three principles:

They delegate a bit of authority to first followers and give them latitude and resources to accomplish a plan.They are also first followers, adding value to their own supervisors's work. They create a ‘team environment’ that promotes “top performance” as the new social norm.

In essence, the point of this entire rambling is this: If you want to take that first real step toward leadership, be a good “first follower”. Use your skill set to strengthen the team and create results. Your performance will speak volumes to your character. 

Learn – Lead – Achieve  


Joe Vulgamore is a Life Coach and Leadership Development Specialist - as well as a Personal Development Author and Speaker. He works with people to develop life and leadership skills to sharpen their edge, perform at optimum levels, and achieve excellence. He has 30 years of leadership experience and a proven track record of helping thousands of people from over 14 countries, across 5 continents, to make life-transformations through one-to-one coaching and workshops.