followership: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Academic, Organizational Psychology
Quick answer
What does “followership” mean?
The state or ability of being a follower.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state or ability of being a follower; the action or capacity of following a leader.
The set of skills, qualities, or behaviours possessed by those who follow a leader effectively; the collective group of followers and the dynamics of their engagement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation differences. The concept is used equally in both varieties, though possibly more frequent in American business/management literature.
Connotations
Often carries a positive, proactive connotation in modern organisational discourse, contrasting with the potentially passive 'subordinate'. It can also have a neutral academic tone when describing a social role.
Frequency
Low-frequency term overall, but established and understood in business, military, and academic contexts. Slightly more common in American corporate and leadership training materials.
Grammar
How to Use “followership” in a Sentence
followership of [someone]followership in [an organisation]followership among [a group]develop/display/teach followershipVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “followership” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team needs to learn how to followership effectively.
- He followerships the CEO's vision closely.
American English
- The unit is trained to followership under pressure.
- She followerships the new policy guidelines.
adverb
British English
- The members acted followershiply, supporting the chair's decision.
- He followed very followershiply.
American English
- The staff responded followershiply to the new initiative.
- She participated followershiply in the project.
adjective
British English
- We examined the followership dynamics in the committee.
- His followership approach is very collaborative.
American English
- The course covers followership theories.
- Good followership behaviour was rewarded.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in management training to describe the necessary counterpart to leadership for organisational success. E.g., 'We need to cultivate followership as much as we train leaders.'
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, and organisational psychology to analyse group dynamics, power structures, and social roles.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation. Might be used in discussing a team or political context.
Technical
A specific term in leadership studies, military doctrine, and organisational development literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “followership”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “followership”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “followership”
- Using it as a synonym for 'followers' (a group of people). 'Followership' refers to the *concept* or *quality*. Incorrect: 'The followership were unhappy.' Correct: 'The followers were unhappy' or 'The quality of followership was poor.'
- Confusing it with 'fellowship'.
- Spelling: 'follower*ship*' not 'follower*scape*'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While obedience can be part of it, modern conceptions of followership emphasise active engagement, critical thinking, and collaboration. It's seen as a proactive role, not a passive one.
Conceptually, no. Followership is inherently relational and defined in opposition to or in partnership with leadership. The term implies a directional relationship towards a leader or a shared goal set by a leader.
In contemporary usage, especially in business and academia, it is predominantly a neutral or positive term. It recognises the vital and skilled contribution of followers. Historically, or in casual use, it might carry a more neutral or slightly subservient connotation.
The noun 'followership' abstracts the concept, allowing us to discuss it as a set of skills, a discipline, or a collective phenomenon. 'Being a follower' describes a state, while 'followership' allows analysis of the quality, theory, and practice of that state. It elevates the discussion from individuals to a systemic component.
The state or ability of being a follower.
Followership is usually formal, business, academic, organizational psychology in register.
Followership: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒləʊəʃɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːloʊərʃɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly using 'followership'. Related: 'blindly follow', 'fall in line', 'march to the beat of someone's drum']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ship full of **followers**. The quality of the crew (the *followership*) determines how well the ship sails under its captain's (leader's) direction.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOLLOWERSHIP IS THE FOUNDATION/SUPPORT (for leadership). FOLLOWERSHIP IS A SKILLSET/A DISCIPLINE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'followership' LEAST likely to be used?