He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.

Leadership as a highly competitive marketplace

So why does this notion of followership persist? One reason might be that although thinking people do not blindly follow, they might in practice take their cue from leaders about where to direct their attention, which then shapes where they put their energies.  This might be a more sensible and palatable treatment of the notion of followership.  But let’s broaden this out a bit and think not only about how senior leaders might direct our attention but also lets look at what else directs our attention in this way, because whether they like it or not, leaders operate in a highly competitive marketplace.