Digital Commons Network^™

Most Admired Leader/Most Admired Follower, Susan D. Baker, Erica L. Anthony, Susan A. Stites-Doe

Organization Management Journal

In introducing concepts of leadership and followership to students, this experiential exercise highlights qualities associated with the leader and follower roles. Various learning objectives guide the development of the exercise. They focus on identification of behavioral qualities possessed by both leaders and followers and on the importance of the leader-follower relationship to the organization’s achievement of goals. Theoretical underpinnings are stressed throughout. In the exercise, students individually develop a list of characteristics associated with their own most admired leader or follower and then share their lists in small groups. In plenary discussion, groups share all characteristics identified, and the instructor …