Integrating Leader and Follower Roles
Many members of an organization have the dual roles of leader and follower. For example,
a middle manager is the leader of an organizational unit but also a follower of a higherlevel
manager. How to integrate these two diverse roles is an interesting question with important
implications for leadership effectiveness.
To be effective in both roles simultaneously, it is necessary to find a way to integrate
them. Inevitable role conflicts and dilemmas make integration of the two roles difficult.
Superiors expect the leader to represent their interests and implement their decisions, but
subordinates expect the leader to represent their interests and to challenge decisions that are unwarranted or unfair. Leaders are expected to initiate and guide change, but they are also expected to encourage and support “bottom-up” changes suggested by followers. A leader is held responsible for everything that happens in the team or work unit, but encouraged to empower followers to act on their own in resolving problems. Leaders are also expected to develop followers, which may involve gradually turning over most leadership responsibilities to one or two subordinates designated as likely successors. Issues of how to balance competing interests and resolve role conflicts deserve more attention in the leadership literature.