Follow to make a difference Published Feb. 27, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Waverly Carter Twentieth Air Force F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- To the young lieutenant with a desire to command or the airman with their goal set on being a command chief, one thing is for sure. Regardless of one's leadership aspirations, all should learn the importance of followership. The term followership seems to carry a negative connotation in our leadership-heavy culture and is typically a label reserved only for those in the junior grades. Ironically, despite the term being viewed as the less desired function, followership truly defines the station of us all. Let us be real, most of us have sized up one of our bosses and thought, "If I was in charge I would ...." Sure, you would. Yes, even the best leaders sometimes do not meet our every expectation. The key, however, is not to be quick to criticize but rather seize the learning opportunity. Following others provides a safe environment to see the effectiveness of one's leadership tactics without the burden of overall responsibility. When you have the opportunity to lead, your example will provide a chance for others to learn. As a follower, you directly impact the effectiveness of your leadership and organization. A genuine follower understands that following transcends the leader-follower relationship and is ultimately about getting the mission accomplished. It is always pleasant when the leader-follower relationship goes smoothly, but when it does not, a follower's fidelity to service is what must prevail. Subjecting yourself to following another is not always an easy task, but finding ways to accept it and give your best effort is at the heart of a followers' duty. Stepping beyond this boundary hinders the natural flow of an organization and prevents development of others and your unit. As a follower, you must learn to accept that your actions may not be captured in an award, but you can make a difference and be part of a legacy of those who served before. Further, if you aspire to lead others, it is important to embrace followership. Authority without an appreciation of followership can be fatal to the mission and organization. Search as you may, you will not find one person who has the answers to all of life's questions and situations. An honest leader understands that part of his success rests on the shoulders of competent followers. Followers are the leader's pulse, providing organizational visibility leaders themselves may be unable to accomplish alone. Hence, a good follower who provides sound advice and production is essential to the success of the mission, and leaders will rely upon them to execute their responsibilities. An incompetent and reluctant follower is a drain on an organization. Failing to embrace followership appears to produce dominating leaders who are unable to identify with those whom they lead. Followership, for many, should be more than just a buzzword -- it is a way of life. I have learned much from following the leaders in my life. Some were great, and some not so great. But all of them were beneficial to my development. If you desire to lead others, remember being a student of followership will lay the foundation for your effectiveness as both follower and leader. How effective will you be?