Are you more a leader or a follower ..why or why not?Do you like control or not?

United States
December 12, 2007 6:03am CST
Do you like to take control and lead the crowd or the control the situation; or do you prefer to take the back seat, let someone else have control, and follow. Myself, I prefer to follow, to let someone else lead and take control in situations..I feel better following and am my best when not leading .. Some people however shine more when they are leading and in control. Which personality type are you: leader or follower ..Please when answering dont just say one word..explain a little:)
5 people like this
22 responses
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
12 Dec 07
I'm actually niether of those things I dont think..or maybe its that I'm both of them depending on the situation..I AM however leader of my own life and don't let others control me, my thoughts, decisions etc...But in various situations I can be both leader and/or follower..For example if the situation calls for leadership in an area I'm not familiar with then naturally I WON'T take charge...but flip of the coin if the situation is my area then sure I will....
2 people like this
• United States
12 Dec 07
I agree..I guess..I lead my own life in that matter..but in situations where there is asked for someone to take charge or lead then it's not me..I love to help..I love to follow and easily take instructions or oders..i don't like to be the boss or boss anyone.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Dec 07
Yes I guess there is..but I wouldn't know about this;) I am timid so love to follow.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
12 Dec 07
i am a follower also.more like i just go with the flow as i deal with multiple personalities in my job who all would like to be leaders,so its is easier for me to just follow.on the weekends i am usually in charge and i just carry on as normal and the work gets done without me dishing out orders.i am probably a little easier to get on with than the other bosses
2 people like this
• United States
12 Dec 07
That is nice that you are not a "bossy boss" ..Although I love confident bosses.. I have had some bosses who are so wishy washy that decision making was passed on to someone else.
1 person likes this
• Saint Lucia
12 Dec 07
i think someone had a discussion similar to this. the answer would be neither leader nor follower because there are times that you need to follow example: when you are young or a child or baby you need to follow those who are older than you so that you could learn form them (although you might not always learn the good things) ther also comes a time in your life where you have to lead example; when you are a mother or father. so it alll depends on the situation you are in, you lead or follow when the time is right.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Dec 07
Could have been a similar subject but really didnt go into detail. This is not what you should be it is a question of what you are ..what your greater trait is. Everyone, no matter what they believe, has a dominant trait.
• Saint Lucia
13 Dec 07
well i'm a thoroughbred.
• Philippines
12 Dec 07
I am more of a follower, ironically though, I hate it when people boss me around ^^. Probably the reason I'd rather follow than lead is my fear of responsibility and the fear of committing some mistake where people get to be affected. As much as possible, I would like to stay clear of being the cause of further problems. I know...I am such a pessimist! =/
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Dec 07
Taking responsability does rest on the one in charge..but I think even those who arent in charge have some responsability they need to deal with.
• United States
12 Dec 07
I am in between. There are situations where I like to follow, I work better following, and I like having it all laid out for me. There are other times when I like being the leader and am good at doing that. I think this is good, I follow more then I lead, but when I have to I can step up to the bat...
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Dec 07
Like you, I think if I had to ..if I was asked to, I would step up to bat. I have had to do things where I was in charge..Teaching, managing some things ..etc.. but I am not one to push myself forward..I like the back seat ..
• United States
12 Dec 07
I would consider myself a leader. i dont realy like to follow as there arent many poeple i trust
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Dec 07
I would think that to lead..you would have to have a great deal of trust that those you are leading will follow?
@bkpdp1 (920)
• India
13 Dec 07
That depends upon the situation. I always like to take the lead, but if it's beyond my capabilites, then i would rather like to follow through, instead of follow up. Unless i feel the leader has enough capabilities than me, i will not give him/her the chance to take a risk.
@Lady_Vincy (1538)
• United States
8 Jan 08
I think that I am somewere in between. I know that I can not always be a leader but I know at the same time I am not always a follower. There are certain situations when I know I have to step up and lead but I also know when I have to step back and give sombody else the spotlight. It takes knowing when is the rigt time. I think that all people need to be leaders and followers at some point and time.
13 Dec 07
I'd have to say both.. Sometimes, leading is the best option and I normally take the lead if it's something I'm best at doing or can do it well. That isn't always the case as certain things are beyond my ability :) I do like sorting and leading what I plan though. (not in a bossy way) ~Joey
@mimatexas (1818)
• United States
14 Dec 07
I am a follower. I don't like to lead since it requires more responsibility. I like to follow others since I know they will lead wisely. I sometimes give my advise and they would listen.
• India
7 Jan 08
Hi littlefranciscan! Leadershipis abou getting things done.I am a leader. I work in a Bank in a leadership position and even when i was in my teens i have had this habit of making followers around me. I like to take charge of situations and get things done. I don't wait for others to respond but take the lead when ever there is a need. Leadership qualities are inbuild in your charecter 60% and the rest can be developed by you. Leaders are those who dare and not afraid of what the consequences would be. He/she should even be ready to take criticisms and failure. All the best!
@macobex (108)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
This is very interesting question. I would like to lead, but I rather choose to follow than to be a leader and be blamed by my followers. Being a leader is a great feeling, but also has a big responsibilities. I'm afraid to have big responsibilities and I'm afraid to be rejected. So even if I believe that I have the talent to be a leader, I still choose to be a follower.
• Canada
21 Mar 08
For the most part i let somone else follow unless i really disagree with what theyre doing. For the most part i am usually the person is actually doing the work taking the orders and getting things done.
• Australia
16 Mar 08
Curious question. I don't think I am either really. I'm certainly not a follower as I do not like to be controlled... in fact, if anyone tries to control me it's more likely to make me dig in my heels (I'm rebellious by nature :) In many ways I am probably more the leader... but I don't tend to put myself forward as such because I don't like conflict and I don't like stress either (though I thrive on it) and being a leader can be very stressful. Having said that, when I do things I am very conscientious and always try to do it well. I work as a checkout operator in a grocery store and I take my job very seriously. There are a lot of things we have to remember to do besides smiling and greeting customers. Like checking credit card signatures, packing items appropriately (ie. don't pack detergents with foods) and asking whether bags are required for large items and whether the person has 'fly buys' (frequent customer reward program) and everything else. The store has 'mystery shoppers' who come and test us on compliance and I have been mystery shopped 7 times in the last 18 months and had a perfect score EVERY time... because of things like that a lot of people look to me for leadership even though I am not in a position of leadership. So I tend to lead by example rather than by being a 'boss'. I try to do things in a way that will inspire others rather than just order them around.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
13 Dec 07
I would definitely have to say that I am more of a follower. I have always been shy and have not overcome that so I am more likely to follow than being a leader. If I try to be leader, it is not vocally. I try to set a good example by my actions and how I do my job or other things. I do not like to be in charge of difficult situations and prefer someone else handling those types of situations,
@subha12 (18441)
• India
13 Dec 07
i like to take lead in most of the situations taht i know I am good to manage. I take initiatives for a task what a group of people are told to do if I am included there. so people most of the time take me as the lead in those situations. where i am not comfortable, i like to follow.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
13 Dec 07
For me it depends a lot on the situation. Somethings seems to be easy for me to take the lead and it works well. In some other things I prefer to follow. SO in terms of personality I think I probably am in between the two. The only thing is that if I"m leading it needs to be on something that I know what I'm doing. I hate to mislead people or lead them into something I'm not sure about. Sometimes I might start following and then end up leading, other times the opposite happens.
@psyche49f (2502)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
I'm a leader, but also a follower at the same time. There are times that I'd rather take the back seat and let someone else take control...but these days, it's just simply not possible especially at work...but honestly,it would have been better if there's a balance between being a leader and a follower. At home though, I am a follower to my husband, although we keep it balanced...
• United States
13 Dec 07
I am pretty outgoing ..so I would say that I am a take charge kind of girl. I don't let anyone walk all over me.
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
13 Dec 07
I am a bit of both. If the leadership is strong, competent and trustworthy then I can follow quite happily. But in groups where this is not the case I tend to lead and take control. In my workplace I tended to be a leader amongst those below management level. But I found it very tiring to always have people depending on me and seeking support from me. At home I have someone I can lean on and depend on and I do not need to be the leader. I am perfectly happy being a leader if I have to be but I cannot maintain it all the time and I am happy to follow leaders who are strong and inspire me. It is much more restful to follow.