NS1 2.1 Followership

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CHAPTER 1

Followership

1

2

The Importance Of Good Followership

2

“Before you can lead, you have to learn

to follow."

3

Good leaders emerge from the ranks of able

followers. Throughout your life, you’ll have

many chances to practice good followership.3

4

An active follower who shares the leader’s goals

and values is an invaluable team member.

To be a follower, you simply do what you’re told, right?

Wrong. The role of a good follower is much more than that.

5

A. Ranks of competent followers

B. Leadership classes

C. Military training and background

D. Years of experience

Where do good leaders come from?

6

A. Ranks of competent followers

B. Leadership classes

C. Military training and background

D. Years of experience

Where do good leaders come from?

7

The “worker bees” – or whatever

you call them – are the heart and

soul of an effective team.

Followers

8Everyone is a Follower!

Secretary of

the Navy

The Follower Relationship

9

During a single day, a team members’ role might

flip back and forth from leader to follower as the

SNSI might ask you to:

• Follower - clean up school parking lot – “Aye

Aye sir, our team can handle it”.

• Leader – you will be assigning various jobs.

Relationship Between Followers and Leaders

10

Leader: honest,

competent,

forward-looking,

inspiring

Follower: honest

competent,

dependable,

cooperative

Traits successful business leaders look for

in effective leaders and good followers in

both cases are similar:

11

"An effective follower

usually demonstrates

the same qualities as

an effective leader."

Why are the two lists so similar?

11

12

Good leaders

start out as

good followers.

12

13

A. shares

B. follows

C. understands

D. recognizes

High value is placed upon a team

member who _______ the leader’s

goals and values.

14

A. shares

B. follows

C. understands

D. recognizes

High value is placed upon a team

member who _______ the leader’s

goals and values.

15

• Independent

• Alienated

• Dependent

• Survivor

Types Of Followers:

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16

Independent or effective followers:

• Play an active role in the unit.

16

17

• Seek out responsibility.

17

18

• Act in a responsible manner.

18

19

• Offer appropriate suggestions for

improvement.19

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• Support the goals and objectives

of the unit.

20

21

True or False: To be a good follower,

all you have to do is obey orders.

22

False

True or False: To be a good follower,

all you have to do is obey orders.

23

Alienated followers:

• Complain and criticize.

• Take no action.

• Always disagree or complain.23

24

Dependent followers:

• Go along with anything.

• The “yes” people.

• Do not contribute to the unit.24

25

Survivor followers:

• Stay in the background.

• Do nothing unless forced.

• Contribute only to keep out of trouble.25

26

A. Never volunteering

B. Going along with anything

C. Taking on responsibility

D. Criticizing every idea

Which one of these behaviors belongs

to an effective follower?

27

A. Never volunteering

B. Going along with anything

C. Taking on responsibility

D. Criticizing every idea

Which one of these behaviors belongs

to an effective follower?

28

Qualities Of A Good Follower

BE LOYAL!

Qualities of an

effective follower

(usually the same as

an effective leader):

28

29

BE SMART!

30SHOW INITIATIVE!

31

COMMON SENSE!

31

32

A. loyal to

B. defensive of

C. indecisive about

D. critical of

Good followers are _______ the

organization and its goals.

33

A. loyal to

B. defensive of

C. indecisive about

D. critical of

Good followers are _______ the

organization and its goals.

34

Followers Have Power

As a follower you can play different,

yet crucial roles in helping your team

achieve its goals or mission.

35

As a follower you can affect team

performance and exert considerable

power.

36

It’s up to the team leader to decide

how to use each follower’s individual

strengths for the team’s overall good.

37

True or False: Followers exert power

when they possess unique skills or

knowledge that can be used by the

group.

38

True

True or False: Followers exert power

when they possess unique skills or

knowledge that can be used by the

group.

39

The Readiness Factors Of Followers

In Act 5, Scene 2

of “Hamlet,” the

prince remarks,

“the readiness is

all.”

Understanding

the readiness of

followers is a

key element of

leadership.

William Shakespeare

39

40

How prepared a team member is to

carry out a particular task or tasks

Readiness

41

Three factors determine readiness:

• Ability

• Willingness

• Confidence

42

Readiness levels are the combinations

of ability and willingness that a person

brings to team tasks. Follower

readiness breaks down into four

levels:

Readiness Levels

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• Readiness Level I: Unable and unwilling.

The team member lacks ability,

commitment, and motivation.

Low Readiness

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• Readiness Level 2: Unable but willing.

The team member lacks ability, but is

motivated and makes an effort to complete

the task.

Moderate Readiness

45

• Readiness Level 3: Able but unwilling.

The team member is able to perform the

task, but is unwilling to use that ability.

Moderate Readiness

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• Readiness Level 4: Able and willing.

The team member has the ability and

commitment to perform the job.

High Readiness

47

A. ideas

B. personality

C. uncertainties

D. strength

A good team leader will use each

follower’s _______ for the good of the

group.

48

A. ideas

B. personality

C. uncertainties

D. strength

A good team leader will use each

follower’s _______ for the good of the

group.

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A. readiness

B. motivation

C. anticipation

D. aggression

A state of being prepared for action is

known as _______.

50

A. readiness

B. motivation

C. anticipation

D. aggression

A state of being prepared for action is

known as _______.

51

As a team leader you need to assess the

ability levels of your followers or team

members. First consider the task you will

be assigning and its desired outcome.

Ability Of Followers

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The knowledge, experience, and

skill a team member or a team

brings to a task

Ability

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Then decide which followers are best

suited to handle the task by their

knowledge, skill, and experience.

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• the ability to

do the work,

• a sense of

duty in doing

it, and

• desire to do it.

Willingness Of Followers

Willingness

consists of:

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Ability and willingness affect

each other. A change in either

factor will affect the way the two

factors operate together.

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A. Abilities of the followers

B. Readiness of the followers

C. Desired outcome of the task

D. His/Her own readiness and ability

What should a team leader consider

first when planning the strategy for a

task?

57

A. Abilities of the followers

B. Readiness of the followers

C. Desired outcome of the task

D. His/Her own readiness and ability

What should a team leader consider

first when planning the strategy for a

task?

58

As team members’ competence and

abilities change, so will their attitudes,

levels of enthusiasm, and commitment.

As they learn more and become more

competent, their confidence level will

increase.

Confidence Of Followers

59

Faith or belief that a person will act

in a right, proper, or effective way,

self-assurance

Confidence

60

As a leader, you must be aware of your

followers’ changing levels of confidence

and competence.

Never label a team member.

Confidence levels can shift and change.

61

Many followers say they have a

“good” leader or a “bad” leader and

assume they can’t do anything to

change the situation.

Building Effective Relationships With

Leaders

62

This would be a big mistake! A leader

alone does not determine the quality

of the relationship between leader and

follower.

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Effective followers know how to:

• Strengthen their relationship with their

leaders

• Enhance the support they provide to their

leaders and the team

64

True or False: Ability and willingness

have a dynamic relationship, i.e., a

change in one affects the other.

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True

True or False: Ability and willingness

have a dynamic relationship, i.e., a

change in one affects the other.

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True or False: An effective leader does

not label team members.

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True

True or False: An effective leader does

not label team members.

68

Let’s look at some suggestions:

As a follower, how can you strength the

leader-follower relationship?

69

A leader’s job is to help his or her

followers succeed. This works both ways

followers also need to help their leaders

succeed.

Always Help the Leader Succeed

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Remember! If the team succeeds,

everyone benefits. If the team fails, the

blame should fall on the followers as well

as the leader.

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Effective team members must know

the leader’s and the organization’s

objectives so they can share that

vision.

Understand The Leader’s World

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Leaders help followers attain their

personal goals; just like a follower

helps a leader achieve the team’s

goals.

73

Knowing a leaders’ values, preferences,

and personality can help a follower

understand the leader’s actions and

decisions. 73

74

Leaders don’t always have all the answers.

Followers can make a great contribution to a

team’s success by recognizing – and trying

to help overcome – a leader’s human

shortcomings.

Educate Your Leader

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A new leader almost always needs

team members’ help.

Followers need to orient and educate

a new leader about team members’

expertise and experience.

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A. stronger

B. happier

C. clearer

D. more equal

The better a follower understands a

leader, the _______ their relationship

will be.

77

A. stronger

B. happier

C. clearer

D. more equal

The better a follower understands a

leader, the _______ their relationship

will be.

78

As a follower, never put your leader in

an embarrassing situation affecting

the team’s business.

Keep Your Leader Informed

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It is the follower’s responsibility to adapt

to the leader’s style, not vice versa.

Adapt To Your Leader’s Style

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Followers need to adapt to the leader’s:

• Decision-making style

• Problem-solving strategies

• Methods of communications

• Styles of interaction

81

A. problems

B. talents

C. styles

D. requirements

Decision-making, problem-solving,

communication, and interaction are all

_______ of leaders that require

followers to adapt.

82

A. problems

B. talents

C. styles

D. requirements

Decision-making, problem-solving,

communication, and interaction are all

_______ of leaders that require

followers to adapt.

83

While working to build a supportive

relationship with your leader, you can take

these additional actions to be an effective

follower:

Be An Effective Follower

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• Be honest.

Followers need to be honest and

dependable. Leaders value team members

who have reliable work habits, accomplish

assigned tasks at the right time in the right

order, and do what they promise.

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• Don’t gripe.

Part of a follower’s job is to make

the team work well. A follower who gripes,

always complaining about policies and poor

leadership, is never productive.

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• Be proactive.

Being proactive includes building a good

relationship with your leader. A follower

must buy into the task of making the team

better.

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• Make sound decisions.

Once you have taken a proactive approach to

followership, you will need to step up and use

your expertise to make sound decisions.

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• Be enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm is contagious energy. It can have

a great influence over the team, its leader, and

its overall performance.

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When given a task, no matter how you feel

about the task, approach it with a positive

attitude. Success rests with your

enthusiasm as well as the leader’s.

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• Be versatile and flexible.

When a problem comes up, take a few

minutes to assess the issue and to

reevaluate your approach. A second look

will almost always reveal a better solution.

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A. inventive

B. proactive

C. ingenious

D. mobile

Instead of griping about poor

leadership, a follower should be

_______, i.e. he/she should take the

initiative to try to make things happen.

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A. inventive

B. proactive

C. ingenious

D. mobile

Instead of griping about poor

leadership, a follower should be

_______, i.e. he/she should take the

initiative to try to make things happen.

93

A. integrity

B. dependability

C. enthusiasm

D. willingness

A follower’s _______ generates energy

that spreads and exerts a positive

influence on the team, its leader, and

its performance.

94

A. integrity

B. dependability

C. enthusiasm

D. willingness

A follower’s _______ generates energy

that spreads and exerts a positive

influence on the team, its leader, and

its performance.

95

A good follower learns as much as

they can about effective leadership

by watching good leaders in action.

Conclusion

96

Good leaders and good followers

make their unit successful.96

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A.1. A. Readiness

B. Followership

C. Initiative

D. Confidence

Q.1. If your attitudes, actions, and

behavior help a leader succeed,

what are you displaying?

98

A.1. A. Readiness

B. Followership

C. Initiative

D. Confidence

Q.1. If your attitudes, actions, and

behavior help a leader succeed,

what are you displaying?

99

A.2. A. Dependability

B. Cooperation

C. Honesty

D. Competence

Q.2. What is the number one trait that

successful business leaders look

for in both effective leaders and

good followers?

100

A.2. A. Dependability

B. Cooperation

C. Honesty

D. Competence

Q.2. What is the number one trait that

successful business leaders look

for in both effective leaders and

good followers?

101

A.3. A. Alienated follower

B. Survivor

C. Dependent follower

D. Effective follower

Q.3. What type of follower actively

seeks responsibility, completes

tasks, and suggests ideas for

improvement?

102


B. Survivor



Q.3. What type of follower actively

seeks responsibility, completes

tasks, and suggests ideas for

improvement?

103


B. Survivor



Q.4. What type of follower stays in the

background, never volunteers,

and does just enough to stay out

of trouble?

104


B. Survivor



Q.4. What type of follower stays in the

background, never volunteers,

and does just enough to stay out

of trouble?

105


B. Survivor



Q.5. What type of follower waits to be

told what to do, goes along with

anything, and does not do any

thinking?

106


B. Survivor



Q.5. What type of follower waits to be

told what to do, goes along with

anything, and does not do any

thinking?

107


B. Survivor



Q.6. What type of follower always

complains, criticizes, and

questions?

108


B. Survivor



Q.6. What type of follower always

complains, criticizes, and

questions?

109

A.7. A. common sense

B. ability

C. initiative

D. dependability

Q.7. If you do what has to be done

without anyone having to tell

you, you are showing _______.

110

A.7. A. common sense

B. ability

C. initiative

D. dependability

Q.7. If you do what has to be done

without anyone having to tell

you, you are showing _______.

111

A.8. A. Ability, willingness, confidence

B. Ability, willingness,

dependability

C. Initiative, willingness,

confidence

D. Willingness, confidence,

dependability

Q.8. What three factors are used to

determine a follower’s readiness?

112

A.8. A. Ability, willingness, confidence

B. Ability, willingness,

dependability

C. Initiative, willingness,

confidence

D. Willingness, confidence,

dependability

Q.8. What three factors are used to

determine a follower’s readiness?

113

A.9. A. Motivation

B. Readiness

C. Assertiveness

D. Initiative

Q.9. What term is used to refer to a

state of being prepared for

action?

114

A.9. A. Motivation

B. Readiness

C. Assertiveness

D. Initiative

Q.9. What term is used to refer to a

state of being prepared for

action?

115

A.10. A. unable but willing

B. unable and unwilling

C. able and willing

D. able but unwilling

Q.10. In Readiness Level 3, the

follower is _______.

116

A.10. A. unable but willing

B. unable and unwilling

C. able and willing

D. able but unwilling

Q.10. In Readiness Level 3, the

follower is _______.

117

A.11. A. ability

B. unwillingness

C. insecurity

D. confidence

Q.11. What trait may followers in

Readiness Levels 2 and 4 have

in common?

118

A.11. A. ability

B. unwillingness

C. insecurity

D. confidence

Q.11. What trait may followers in

Readiness Levels 2 and 4 have

in common?

119

A.12. A. The confidence level of followers

increases during the course of

performing a task.

B. A team member’s apparent unwillingness

may instead be a lack of confidence.

C. A team leader’s first consideration when

planning the strategy for a task is to

consider the readiness of the followers.

D. Because ability and willingness affect

each other, their function is susceptible

to a change in either one.

Q.12. Which of the following statements is NOT

accurate regarding the readiness of

followers?

120

A.12. A. The confidence level of followers

increases during the course of

performing a task.

B. A team member’s apparent unwillingness

may instead be a lack of confidence.

C. A team leader’s first consideration when

planning the strategy for a task is to

consider the readiness of the followers.

D. Because ability and willingness affect

each other, their function is susceptible

to a change in either one.

Q.12. Which of the following statements is NOT

accurate regarding the readiness of

followers?

121

A.13. A. willingness

B. dependability

C. ability

D. initiative

Q.13. What term is used to refer to the

degree to which a team member

shows confidence,

commitment, and motivation to

carry out a task?

122


B. dependability

C. ability

D. initiative

Q.13. What term is used to refer to the

degree to which a team member

shows confidence,

commitment, and motivation to

carry out a task?

123


B. ability

C. confidence

D. readiness

Q.14. A team member’s _______ is a

combination of the knowledge,

experience, and skill that he/she

brings to a task.

124


B. ability

C. confidence

D. readiness

Q.14. A team member’s _______ is a

combination of the knowledge,

experience, and skill that he/she

brings to a task.

125

A.15. A. A good relationship between leader

and follower is a matter of luck.

B. If a leader is bad, the followers can

do nothing to change the situation.

C. The leader alone is responsible for

the quality of the relationship.

D. Effective followers attempt to build a

strong relationship with the leader.

Q.15. Which of these statements is true

regarding the relationship between

leader and follower?

126

A.15. A. A good relationship between leader

and follower is a matter of luck.

B. If a leader is bad, the followers can

do nothing to change the situation.

C. The leader alone is responsible for

the quality of the relationship.

D. Effective followers attempt to build a

strong relationship with the leader.

Q.15. Which of these statements is true

regarding the relationship between

leader and follower?

127

A.16. A. actions and decisions

B. talents

C. responsibilities

D. weaknesses

Q.16. If followers understand the

leader’s personality and values,

they will better understand

his/her _______.

128

A.16. A. actions and decisions

B. talents

C. responsibilities

D. weaknesses

Q.16. If followers understand the

leader’s personality and values,

they will better understand

his/her _______.

129

A.17. A. knowledge

B. weakness

C. vision

D. strategy

Q.17. An effective follower shares the

_______ of the leader and the

organization.

130

A.17. A. knowledge

B. weakness

C. vision

D. strategy

Q.17. An effective follower shares the

_______ of the leader and the

organization.

131

A.18. A. young

B. new

C. ambitious

D. quiet

Q.18. A/An _______ leader is most

likely to need the help of team

members.

132

A.18. A. young

B. new

C. ambitious

D. quiet

Q.18. A/An _______ leader is most

likely to need the help of team

members.

133

A.19. A. To express their fears and concerns

about the team’s performance and

outcomes

B. To outline the strengths and

weaknesses of the former leader

C. To explain the expectations they

have for him/her

D. To educate him/her about the team

members’ expertise and experience

Q.19. What is one of the first responsibilities

that followers have to a new leader?

134

A.19. A. To express their fears and concerns

about the team’s performance and

outcomes

B. To outline the strengths and

weaknesses of the former leader

C. To explain the expectations they

have for him/her

D. To educate him/her about the team

members’ expertise and experience

Q.19. What is one of the first responsibilities

that followers have to a new leader?

135

A.20. A. New leaders must adapt to the

former leader’s style.

B. New leaders must adapt to the

followers’ styles.

C. Followers must adapt to the new

leader’s style.

D. Both followers and leaders must

adapt to each other’s styles.

Q.20. What is the most effective strategy

in adapting to a new leader?

136

A.20. A. New leaders must adapt to the

former leader’s style.

B. New leaders must adapt to the

followers’ styles.

C. Followers must adapt to the new

leader’s style.

D. Both followers and leaders must

adapt to each other’s styles.

Q.20. What is the most effective strategy

in adapting to a new leader?

137

A.21. A. fair

B. clear

C. realistic

D. agreeable

Q.21. Effective leaders ensure that

their expectations about

followers’ roles and

responsibilities are _______.

138

A.21. A. fair

B. clear

C. realistic

D. agreeable

Q.21. Effective leaders ensure that

their expectations about

followers’ roles and

responsibilities are _______.

139

A.22. A. Ask him/her to clarify them

B. Be patient because they will

understand the expectations

after further analysis

C. Wait awhile since group actions

will illuminate the expectations

D. Inquire how other followers

interpret the expectations

Q.22. What should followers do if a

leader’s expectations are not

clear?

140

A.22. A. Ask him/her to clarify them

B. Be patient because they will

understand the expectations

after further analysis

C. Wait awhile since group actions

will illuminate the expectations

D. Inquire how other followers

interpret the expectations

Q.22. What should followers do if a

leader’s expectations are not

clear?

141

A.23. A. John Glenn

B. Chuck Yeager

C. Alan Shepherd

D. Neil Armstrong

Q.23. Who assumed the role of follower and

leader many times throughout his

career, which included being a veteran

of World War II and the Korean

Conflict, one of the original NASA

astronauts, the first American to orbit

the Earth, a US senator, and voyager

on the space shuttle?

142

A.23. A. John Glenn

B. Chuck Yeager

C. Alan Shepherd

D. Neil Armstrong

Q.23. Who assumed the role of follower and

leader many times throughout his

career, which included being a veteran

of World War II and the Korean

Conflict, one of the original NASA

astronauts, the first American to orbit

the Earth, a US senator, and voyager

on the space shuttle?

143

A.24. A. initiative

B. dependability

C. integrity

D. willingness

Q.24. If a follower does not have

_______, his/her other qualities

are not important.

144

A.24. A. initiative

B. dependability

C. integrity

D. willingness

Q.24. If a follower does not have

_______, his/her other qualities

are not important.

145

A.25. A. It has a positive effect on followers

because they are able to express

their feelings.

B. It weakens the leader’s authority and

the team’s ability to function well.

C. It brings the problems to the

leader’s attention and he/she can

correct them.

D. It generates a type of team spirit

since everyone can share their

frustrations.

Q.25. What effect does griping have on a

team?

146

A.25. A. It has a positive effect on followers

because they are able to express

their feelings.

B. It weakens the leader’s authority and

the team’s ability to function well.

C. It brings the problems to the

leader’s attention and he/she can

correct them.

D. It generates a type of team spirit

since everyone can share their

frustrations.

Q.25. What effect does griping have on a

team?

147

A.26. A. proactive

B. inventive

C. versatile

D. enthusiastic

Q.26. When, instead of griping, a team

member takes the initiative and

assumes part of the

responsibility to make things

happen, he/she is being

_______.

148

A.26. A. proactive

B. inventive

C. versatile

D. enthusiastic

Q.26. When, instead of griping, a team

member takes the initiative and

assumes part of the

responsibility to make things

happen, he/she is being

_______.

149

A.27. A. making sound decisions

B. setting higher goals

C. analyzing progress

D. gathering support

Q.27. A team member must follow up

his/her proactive approach by

_______.

150

A.27. A. making sound decisions

B. setting higher goals

C. analyzing progress

D. gathering support

Q.27. A team member must follow up

his/her proactive approach by

_______.

151

A.28. A. initiative

B. enthusiasm

C. flexibility

D. integrity

Q.28. An effective follower shows

_______ by not getting

frustrated at the first roadblock,

but devising another way to

accomplish a task.

152

A.28. A. initiative

B. enthusiasm

C. flexibility

D. integrity

Q.28. An effective follower shows

_______ by not getting

frustrated at the first roadblock,

but devising another way to

accomplish a task.

153

A.29. A. courage

B. dependability

C. loyalty

D. honesty

Q.29. The quality most closely

associated with integrity is

_______.

154

A.29. A. courage

B. dependability

C. loyalty

D. honesty

Q.29. The quality most closely

associated with integrity is

_______.

155

A.30. A. Having a poor leader places an

enormous burden on the followers, but

complaining is never productive.

B. An example of a follower’s proactive

behavior is offering the leader

suggestions for improvement.

C. The important thing is the

accomplishing of a task, not the attitude

with which it is accomplished.

D. A team’s success depends as much on

the followers’ enthusiasm as on the

leader’s.

Q.30. Which of these statements about

followership is NOT true?

156

A.30. A. Having a poor leader places an

enormous burden on the followers, but

complaining is never productive.

B. An example of a follower’s proactive

behavior is offering the leader

suggestions for improvement.

C. The important thing is the

accomplishing of a task, not the attitude

with which it is accomplished.

D. A team’s success depends as much on

the followers’ enthusiasm as on the

leader’s.

Q.30. Which of these statements about

followership is NOT true?

NS1 2.1 Followership

Education

Transcript of NS1 2.1 Followership