ABSTRACT
Using followership as the foundation on which to empower women, the authors present a think piece about the partnerships between leaders and followers in this chapter. Followers have a substantial role to play in the accomplishment of goals in any organization, through their degree of engagement or through their use of dependent or independent thinking. If influence without authority is familiar terrain for many women, how can being an “exemplary follower” help women move forward? Advocating to see more women in leadership roles, the authors hypothesize that one possible way ahead is to teach women the partnering skills necessary to use their influence in their roles as followers. Bishop and DeFrank-Cole created the “leader-follower cycle,” a model to identify the pathways where women may become exemplary followers and then, with the help of a sponsor, take on a leadership position. If women utilize exemplary followership skills, they will not only feel empowered but perhaps may be seen as more adept at stepping into leadership roles.
