Relationship is the Key

Our challenge to define leadership and followership has proven one thing. It is a complex issue with almost unending layers of insight. One constant that can be applied on any level is the interdependence of the two. Bass and Stogdill point this out in their book Handbook of Leadership as they observe: “leaders cannot exist without followers, nor can followers exist without leaders.” This places an importance upon relationship that cannot be ignored. Kouzes and Posner, in their book The Leadership Challenge, literally define leadership as a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow. This being said, it makes sense that the success of both the leader and the follower hinges on the relationship that is developed between them. May God help us invest the time and hard work necessary in developing the kind of relationships that will insure productive leadership.