Good to see that high schoolers are thinking on these lines, too. I completely agree with his points, and propose that we start to construct new language that goes beyond leader/follower [I like your use of citizen].

I encourage anyone that considers themselves a leader to be a follower and support other new leaders. It is just as important to know when to sit back as it is to know when to speak up...

While I mostly agree with the idea of followership, it seems to me that everyone can be a leader. I don't know that it's written somewhere that leaders need to have followers to be considered leaders. For instance, what Claudia said about Josh, he's displaying leadership, but who is he leading? In this regard I think I agree with Sarah and a new language is necessary.

I would also question Josh's assumptions about leadership. Leadership does not mean you are at the top of some giant pyramid of people. I don't think the examples he gave about about politics and also Martin Luther King are accurate. People in politics have plenty of leaders working for/with them. Even the volunteer calling people and urging them to vote is displaying some leadership.

I think the real issue with leadership is who gets credit. I put this quote in a posting recently, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." Truman said that and I belive this is true. Is followership really just leading but letting someone else take the credit for it? Isn't that what politicians and someone like Martin Luther King really do? Josh is right, MLK didn't make all those things happen on his own. What is good followership? Is it being an engaged citizen?

I too agree with the author's view. Without followers, where would "leaders" be? He did have the courage to write his article and he also states he has the decision to follow a good leader; whether he realizes what he just did or not, I applaud his lead.

How are students educated about leadership? Reading Epstein's article may facilitate changes in what young adults and children often think as leaders. They are not always a stand out citizen, a famous person or someone in an important position. Being leaderly can be in everyone. Based on how this student stated leaders, I am going to research with my own children...how well do they engage either way?

Claudia,

That was a great article by a kid who may be wise beyond his years. He sure seams comfortable in his own skin.

His piece reminds me of the old bromide, "LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY." His ideas regarding followership have occurred to me throughout this semester. As we read these theories that mention being passionate about leading and loving your followers I wonder how crucial those actions really are. I've worked with many leaders who I don't feel could care less about their charges. What seemed more important was success in the task at hand. In cases like that, I think having good followers is crucial.

It would be interesting to revisit this author 10 years from now. I would be willing to bet that he will be a leader of some sort in whatever organization he is immersed in. He may not have a title, a corner office, or hiring and firing authority, but his well thought out stance leads me to believe that he'll be the go-to guy in some aspect of his organization.