Are you a Leader or a Follower?
By selece
@selece (2357)
Philippines
July 12, 2008 11:44am CST
In life, there are leaders and followers. Leaders with a strong will and charisma to drive and lead others to greater heights, while followers that support sincerely and make things possible by materializing the concepts and ideas of the leaders. Both are equal in a way that one cannot exist without the other. No leaders means no followers and vice versa.
I have been pretty much of a follower my whole life. I enjoy serving people and giving the best of my abilities to accomplish a certain task. I work hard and sincerely especially to attain something good that is shared among people important to me. Then again, I am faced with great challenges today, that I should exist as a leader for others. I am currently the editor-in-chief of our publication. It's a huge and difficult responsibility and I think a lot of people within the publication deserve it better than me. So now, I'm slowly learning how to be a leader, I hope I can find the same happiness as being a follower. Maybe it's about time that I get into the other side of the road, explore new things and guide others.
How about you, are you a leader or a follower?
8 people like this
45 responses
@jessej9 (394)
• Philippines
13 Jul 08
Hi, years back I'd always just want to be a follower, a nobody that does the work behind the scenes. But today, I learned to be a leader, motivating the people to work, planning what needs to be done. But I never forgot to be a follower, I still give way to people who shows as the leader, never hesistating to give them the position and of course, I still work hard even though I am just an ordinary member. The important thing in leadership is that you learn to be a follower before you become a leader, the problem is, I know many people who does not want to follow, but to lead only, and the bigger problem is when they have that chance to lead, their ego gets the best out of them so in turn, affects the performance of all.
I'm not saying that I'm a good leader, what i'm saying is that lets all give way for other people to lead, it's not meant to be just us leading the way.
2 people like this
@amrith (291)
• India
13 Jul 08
I am a follower. I feel that with out followers one cannot become a leader it is the followers who makes a leader .But I always dreamt to become a leader but i think leader ship is an inborn talent a type of superiority . That i don't have. That is why I always have a great regard for leaders in every walks of life
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
13 Jul 08
I am definitely not a follower as I do not enjoy following what others tell me to do.
I am also not a leader as I am not assertive and do not enjoy telling others what to do.
I want to be neither a leader nor a follower. I just want to live my life happily the way I want it. I do not wish to lead and to be led. 
2 people like this
@paid2write (5201)
•
12 Jul 08
I would say I can be either, depending on where I am and who I'm with.
I have had to be a leader at work and I have also worked as part of a team. In both situations, I had to adapt myself. I am neither a natural leader nor am I a follower, I am too independent.
I like to make my own decisions and to do things my own way. I don't really want anyone else to follow what I do, nro do I want to follow what anyone else does. I just want to be me but I can adapt myself to lead or to follow when I have to.
2 people like this
@shoffman2000 (560)
• Alexandria, Virginia
13 Jul 08
I am definately a leaders. As a notary I am in charge of the notarization process.
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Hi selece, well I defenatly am not a leader. I have been a follower all of my life. I am like you.I too have always been a very hard worker,I always do they job that is set before me and then some.But selece, it does sound to me that you yourself would make a great leader,You already have accomplished alot, being the editor-in chief is a great posission to be in.That is a huge resposibility. Good luck to you.
2 people like this
@bieke81 (1067)
• Belgium
19 Jul 08
That's what I mean with shifting from one thing to another. You will stay the same inside, but on the outside you will look like the kind of person you would want to be. You get what I mean? Superficial you will be a leader, but in your heart you will know it's not like you at all, it's fake. And although other people won't notice it, you will know.
Have a nice day 
@mygirls9901 (338)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Selece, I am way more a follower than a leader. When it comes to having kids, though, I have to be a leader. I lead them in a straight line so that they know that they can grow up to be strong people. I joined the Army at 25 years old to show my kids that it is okay to change things up a bit and not always stay in the same old grind that you've been in for your whole life. I also follow the rules but lead my children to follow that same path of guidelines to help them grow stronger and more independent. However, I follow in the sense that when I am given guidelines I will follow them to the best of my ability. I have my own personality and sometimes really hate having authority over my life but I also respect and follow authority as it helps all of us stay in line. Thanks for the post :D
2 people like this
@darlene06 (284)
• Philippines
12 Jul 08
most of the time i'm a follower and sometimes, i'm a leader.. however, there are times while being a follower, i want to be the leader.. i just don't have enough courage to be one because i know that there are better people who deserves to be in that position... but i'm happy that most of the time i'm a follower because i get to express myself more as a follower and i learn a lot from a leader..especially from the good one..
2 people like this
@snowbitz (487)
• Philippines
12 Jul 08
For me in order to be a god leader one should be a good follower also.I am both,being the eldest in the family you are the leader if the parents are not there in order for you to be respected and followed you must set a good example.when my parents are around i always make it a point that my brother and sister sees me following insruction from our parents.I feel that i can't be an effective leader if i am not a good follower.
2 people like this
@valeria1 (2721)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I am actually a leader. I love to help people though. But I alwyas had many followers. I always conquer what I want in life by being like that. I have done all I wanted in my life by following my perceptions and I was always right in my universe. LOL
2 people like this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
12 Jul 08
selece you will do things just fine. You have a good mind.
I am a leader that makes sure to follow through on everything. I implement many ideas that I have as well as taking care of what needs to be done. I can follow through on others ideas too. I want to make sure things are done to the best it can be no matter what it is.
I am a doer, as well as a thinker. I'm sure this is what many people are, although I know their are some that excel in just one area.
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
16 Jul 08
Thank you for the confidence in me and the thoughts. You are so sweet.
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
13 Jul 08
I prefer to say that I'm neither or else, both.
I don't like being thought of as either of them, lol..and tend to stay out of situations where I have to pick one of those roles. I'm usually very much a loner.
I CAN lead (but don't really want to).
But I also know when to follow and serve (but need to be needed for this to work out).
Perhaps we need more Leaders who Follow, hm?
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
19 Jul 08
I don't get very lonely =)
Thanks for posting such an interesting discussion!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Jul 08
hi selece I am veru much a follower but I dont mind that'someone has to follow and someone had to lead. I am gladyou are learning
to be a leader as you need to be as editor in chief of your
magazine. I am proud of you you are learning you are somebody and thats good you must lead and others will follow you. lol
1 person likes this
@twistershot (736)
• India
19 Jul 08
I am satisfy with my life and want to do something for people and society, I am a fallower, like to know many things from top leaders which can help to people in a better way, I am trying to grasp some points from success man and leaders. Need to learn many things from leaders so there is more time to become a leader
.
and want to do something for people and society, I am a fallower, like to know many things from top leaders which can help to people in a better way, I am trying to grasp some points from success man and leaders. Need to learn many things from leaders so there is more time to become a leader.
@joliefille (3690)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
When I was in grade school, I can recall I was more of a follower. I was very shy and just nod my head at my classmates' suggestions. I felt at the time that I had a lot of classmates who were more assertive and they seem to dominate the classroom. But when I got to high school until today, I found that 8 out of 10 times they would pick me as a leader. I think it's because I have expressed to my friends or everyone what area I'm good at or what area I'm not good at and also that I have learned to be assertive myself.
1 person likes this
@msedge (4011)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I think i am both a leader and a follower.I like helping other people.It touches my heart everytime someone needs help.I just wish God will give us more blessings to help others and lead them to the right path and i try to be a good follower of Jesus Christ.I am just human born to commit mistakes but i try to do all things with righteousness.
1 person likes this
