A good leader often benefits from being a good follower, gaining essential skills and insights. However, leadership also requires independent thinking and decisive action, which do not always align with the premise of the question.
I. Introduction
- Hook: Leadership and followership are often seen as opposing roles.
- Background: Brief overview of leadership qualities and the importance of followership.
- Thesis Statement: A good leader often benefits from being a good follower, gaining essential skills and insights. However, leadership also requires independent thinking and decisive action, which do not always align with following.
II. Supporting View 1: Understanding Team Dynamics
- Topic Sentence: Good followers understand team dynamics, which is crucial for effective leadership.
- Example 1: In 2020, Jacinda Ardern’s collaborative approach in New Zealand showed strong team dynamics.
- Example 2: In 2018, Emmanuel Macron’s rise involved understanding and working within different political groups in France.
- Example 3: In 2021, Sanna Marin’s leadership in Finland highlighted her ability to engage with her team.
- Analysis: These examples show that understanding team dynamics enhances leadership effectiveness.
III. Supporting View 2: Empathy and Support
- Topic Sentence: Good followers develop empathy and the ability to support others, crucial for leaders.
- Example 1: In 2017, Angela Merkel’s empathetic response to the refugee crisis showed her understanding of people’s needs in Germany.
- Example 2: In 2019, Justin Trudeau’s supportive policies in Canada demonstrated empathy.
- Example 3: In 2018, Leo Varadkar’s leadership in Ireland reflected his supportive approach to social issues.
- Analysis: These cases illustrate how empathy and support are vital leadership qualities developed through good followership.
IV. Supporting View 3: Learning from Leaders
- Topic Sentence: Good followers learn from their leaders, which is essential for their own leadership development.
- Example 1: In 2018, Theresa May’s experience under David Cameron in the UK shaped her leadership.
- Example 2: In 2019, Japan’s Shinzo Abe benefited from his early political roles.
- Example 3: In 2020, Pedro Sánchez of Spain grew through his political experiences.
- Analysis: These examples highlight how learning from leaders can prepare individuals for their own leadership roles.
V. Opposing View 1: Independent Thinking
- Topic Sentence: Leadership requires independent thinking, which does not always align with being a follower.
- Example 1: In 2019, Narendra Modi’s decisive actions in India showed independent leadership.
- Example 2: In 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demonstrated independent, sometimes controversial, decisions.
- Example 3: In 2020, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky showed strong independent leadership in crisis.
- Analysis: These cases demonstrate how independent thinking is crucial for effective leadership.
VI. Opposing View 2: Decisiveness and Authority
- Topic Sentence: Leaders need to make decisive and authoritative decisions, which followers may not always do.
- Example 1: In 2021, Boris Johnson’s handling of the UK’s COVID-19 response required decisive leadership.
- Example 2: In 2020, South Korea’s Moon Jae-in took decisive actions against COVID-19.
- Example 3: In 2019, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed’s peace efforts required authoritative decisions.
- Analysis: These instances show that decisiveness and authority are essential for leadership, sometimes contrasting with followership.
VII. Opposing View 3: Vision and Innovation
- Topic Sentence: Effective leaders often have a vision and drive innovation, which followers may lack.
- Example 1: In 2020, Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen showed innovative leadership in technology and health.
- Example 2: In 2018, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame led with a vision for technological advancement.
- Analysis: These examples illustrate that having a vision and driving innovation are key leadership traits.
VIII. Conclusion
- Restate Thesis: While being a good follower can enhance leadership skills, effective leadership also requires independent thinking, decisiveness, and vision.
- Summary of Key Points: Recap the main supporting and opposing views.
- Final Thought: A balanced approach that integrates followership experiences with independent leadership traits is ideal.
This essay is overly focused on politicians and may not score well, although it has many examples. It is important to provide a broad perspective of where leaders are needed. Leaders can be found in schools, the military, prisons, and any place where hierarchies are required, i.e., even at home.