“The best leaders were & are great followers. Great followers learn how to lead without the power given by position.” – Randy Blincow, Founder, Healthy Rhythms Life Coaching

As a Corporate Finance Executive, and as the Executive Pastor of a large multisite church, I made a career of being in the 2^nd chair of organizations. Yes, early in my career I became an official leader of people, but throughout my working days I was always at the side of a leader – I was first & always a follower. My contention is that learning to be a great follower was the most important influence on my ability to be a good leader.

I believe curiosity to be one of the top ten attributes of great followers. Throughout our lives, we should continue to exercise and grow our minds by exploring more deeply things that interest us, things that move us forward in our purpose, and things that make us more valuable to ourselves, our family, our organization, our neighbors, and the world at large.

We often hear the phrase “be a life-long learner”. This is the first outcome of curiosity; the desire to know something you do not already know. I would add that it is equally – possibly more – valuable to learn something you thought you already knew but did not, correctly. Furthering your education, whether formally or informally, is the path to personal growth. It prepares you for a future, possibly a future that will have you in a position of leadership. It generally makes you a more well-rounded, interesting person that adds value to the communities in which you live, work, and play.

Curiosity in your workplace (vocational, volunteer, avocational) should lead you to learning about tasks and projects that are not necessarily your responsibility. This is the second outcome of curiosity; taking on work for someone else and adding value to your organization. This does not advocate or make excuses for being a workaholic, but to the extent that you do not abdicate another responsibility, this can be of great value to your current leader and to your own future. Throughout my career, I consistently sought to be in meetings that I was not required to be in. I accepted invitations to be involved in projects that were optional. When you do this, you of course learn more rapidly, but you also allow your leader to spend his or her time working on more strategic, not yet developed, projects.

The final outcome of curiosity that I believe makes you a great follower is building relationships. When you are curious about people and organizational dynamics, you become a magnet. Whether in your family, your workplace, or where you volunteer or hang out, people around you have one thing in common: they want to be known. Truly known. When you show genuine interest in them, what makes them tick, their dreams, their disappointments, their own relationships, you become a VIP regardless of your actual position. Of course, appropriate boundaries are a necessity. Not everyone will allow you “in”, and that is their decision. But when those boundaries are discovered, established, and held sacred, you are then free to be curious about anyone regardless of their actual position.

Be curious. Think of something you’ve always wondered about but have not taken the time to delve into. Dive in! Think of something you’ve always wanted to be involved in but have not sought permission to do. Ask! Think of someone you believe needs someone to know them well. Approach them!