Can I give you some feedback?

The purpose of feedback is to support effective followership.

Giving feedback is something we expect leaders to do well. It’s also something that even seasoned managers find difficult and it isn’t always received as a gift!

From a leader perspective Marissa Fernandez’ strategies are helpful. These relate to leaders understanding both the broader context and individual team members, building trust, and setting ego aside. All these are valuable but they don’t necessarily address the underlying intent of feedback.

What happens when we shift our focus? What if the purpose of feedback is to support effective followership?

My research suggests that leaders can squash effective followership in a number of ways. Leader’s lack of decision or direction makes effective followership impossible. On the flip side micromanagement or unnecessary direction also kills effective followership. Indeed followers bemoan a general lack of leadership skills or ability in their managers. Finally, a mismatch between follower understanding and leader expectations or directions is problematic.

This all highlights the need for fundamental skills, including communication, which Marissa’s article also point to. But it is more complex than that. A leader can also facilitate effective followership by being receptive when followers share ideas or information and by being prepared to change their mind on the basis of those new ideas or information.

Followers have a responsibility too. Effective followership includes asking questions to make sure that they understand what the leader is asking them to do. Followers will also request advice, guidance, or reassurance from their leader to ensure that what they are doing is correct. Whereas questioning clarifies what the follower will do, seeking guidance allows the leader to reassure the follower that they are doing the right things or doing things in the right way. Followers work with leaders together contributing to the achievement of team or organisational outcomes. Finally effective followers provide leaders with advice and feedback. They advise leaders (who are receptive) on what to do and they provide feedback on what has been done to support the leader’s decision making.

Providing information, advice, and feedback is a key leadership and followership responsibility which is shared by managers and team members.