It’s your choice: you can be a cursing or a blessing to those who lead you. Whether your leader is an employer, coach, teacher or team leader, you can be a follower who brings joy to your leader or one they wish wasn’t on the team.

The writer of this passage from the Bible said it wisely: “Obey your leaders and submit to them…………. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

How can I follow well? Here are some characteristics of those who follow well:

1. They encourage their leaders (personally and in front of others).
2. They disagree respectfully, humbly, and as often as able, privately.
3. They dispense grace. Understanding they themselves make many mistakes, followers are quick to forgive the errors of their leaders and resiliently regroup and press forward.
4. Good followers don’t participate in gossip about their leader behind his/her back or with other coworkers. They understand the negative influence this has on a company culture.
5. Understanding leadership is difficult and often lonely, good followers regularly ask their leader for additional ways he/she can help the leader or the team.

The writer of this passage from the Bible knew well. He said, “being a poor follower is, in essence, no advantage to you. When we are a poor follower, it usually is for a reason. We are choosing to be a poor follower because:

• We want to be seen as wiser than our leader.
• If we are viewed as wiser, then perhaps we will be noticed when new leadership roles are offered
• We want others to esteem us. So, by putting down a leader, we are attempting to make ourselves look better.

Truth is: it is no advantage to you to follow poorly, just as the writer says. You can follow well and still be recognized for your abilities, in addition to being regarded as humble, teachable, a team player, encouraging, friendly, optimistic, positive and self-controlled.  Following well, now, better positions you to lead in the future than choosing to follow poorly.