A blog about leadership: How the leader make followers

The leader and his companion(s)

You have probably learned a whole lot about leadership and about creating support for an idea. Try watching the movie here (it lasts 3 minutes) and let's extract some messages.

Easy to follow
A leader needs to have the courage to stand up and look a little ridiculous. What he is doing here is so simple that it is almost instructive. And at the same time it is the key. You need to be easy to follow. The first companion shows up. He has a crucial role to play. He publicly shows everyone how to follow. Note that the leader welcomes the companion as a like-minded person. Now it's not about the leader anymore. Now it's about 'us'. Majority. Also note that the companion calls on his friends. It takes courage to be the first companion. He exposes himself and ridicules himself. Being the first companion is an underestimated part of leadership. The first companion transforms the lone fool into a leader. If the leader is the flint, then the first companion is the spark that ignites the fire.

A group is news
Companion No. 2 is a turning point. He is the proof that Companion No. 1 has done well. Now it is no longer a lone fool and it is no longer two fools. Three is a group and a group is a novelty. A ‘movement’ is necessarily public. Convince yourself that outsiders see more than just the leader. Everyone needs to see the companions because new companions mimic the companions - not the leader. Now 2 more are coming. And 3 more. Now we have momentum. Now we have a movement!

Part of the inner circle
As more and more people jump in, it has also become risk-free. If before there was someone who hung in the handbrake and expressed a little resistance, then there is no longer any reason not to participate. Nor will they be ridiculed. If they hurry, they will become part of the inner circle. Over the next minute you will see that everyone wants to be part of the group because they will eventually be ridiculed for not participating.

Ladies and gentlemen

How to create a backing! Let's pick up on what we've learned:

If in one way or another you are a version of this shirtless dancer, all alone, remember the importance of caring for your first, few companions as like-minded people. Make the task quite clear. It's not about you.

Be public. Be easy to follow!

Did you also capture the most important message? Leadership is a glorified activity.

Oh yes. It started with a shirtless guy. And he gets all the credit. But you also saw what really happened:

It was the first companion to transform the lone fool into a leader. But the task will not be solved without the first companion.

We have often heard that we are all leaders. But that would be quite inefficient. The best way to build support if you really want to is to fearlessly follow and show others how to follow.

When you see a lone fool doing something amazing, show your courage and be the first to get up and participate.

Written by Michael Meinhardt, LEADERS WAREHOUSE.