The Followership Continuum - The Innovation Journal

provide increased contribution toward the work effort. The impetuses for change in performance
vary and are many. They can include changes in the leader, the organizational structures, systems
and procedures, and the roles and attitudes of the individual, colleagues, and subordinates. So the
question becomes how to address those variables that the organization can control or influence.
The impact of these many variables demonstrates that organizational productivity is never stable,
but requires constant attention to sustain high output. This is contingent upon knowing where
you are and taking corrective actions. In many ways the steps in improving organizational
productivity is like reading a map. The starting point for any journey is knowing your current
location and knowing the desired destination. With these beginning and ending points in mind,
bridging the gap requires charting a course from one point to the others. The Followership
Continuum provides a mapping of the organization’s performance output status, from which the
journey toward exemplary followership can be charted.
Likewise, the Followership Continuum provides an assessment of the intensity of output or
energy contributed by the workforce. This output is measured along a continuum of performance
levels, which range from the minimum to the most desired. This workforce performance output
can be compared against desired output levels and outcome measures. Together this information
provides the basis for needed corrective or remediation actions.
The continuum is represented by five stages of dynamic followership performance, presented in
Figure 1 below.
Figure 1- Followership Continuum
Followership Continuum©
Employee Committed Engaged Effective Exemplary
Follower Follower Follower Follower
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
The five stages of dynamic and changing followership performance presented in the
Followership Continuum are comprised of:
Stage 1
Employee
Stage 2
Committed
Stage 3
Engaged
Stage 4
Effective
Stage 5
Exemplary
The first stage of followership in the workplace begins by becoming an
employee, providing work in return for some form of pay.
At the committed followership stage the employee is bound to the
mission, idea, organization, or has an internal pledge to an effort or
person.
At the engaged followership stage, the follower is an active supporter,
willing to go above and beyond the routine.
The effective follower is capable and dependable.
The exemplary follower could easily be the leader. Instead, the
exemplary follower sets ego aside and works to support the leader. They
lead themselves.
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