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INFLUENCING YOUR FOLLOWERS

INFLUENCING YOUR FOLLOWERS

In my previous essays I explained that a follower is a neophyte who enters the cycle of leadership because he or she needs to be inspired  and raised to grow in the direction of an intended purpose in order to be transformed into his or her ideal self to eventually become a leader. Also, I further explained that there are four stages in the leadership cycle that the leader has the singular responsibility of ensuring that the people being led complete their rounds in the cycle. The four stages are the: Follower, Disciple, Collaborator and Leader. Each of these stages is characterized by liminal phases and observable indicators or traits for each individual in the leadership cycle.

The focus of this essay is to establish how the followers can be influenced in the direction of achieving the intended result needed, which lies solely on the leader’s dexterity in understanding the dynamics of human personality and relationship with the articulation of vision for the leadership. Who you are as leader will determine how you will be perceived by your followers and consequently, how you will influence them. On the other hand who your followers are will also determine how they will be influenced by you. You can succeed in influencing your followers when you have the understanding of you are and the people you are leading.

The leader who understands the various designs of the followers will eventually end up influencing them no matter who they are, in class or caliber, without persuasion. By this, there are three possible points of influence for every player in the cycle of leadership common to both followers and leaders. These points are attuned to the tripartite nature of man with varying degrees of inclination. They are spiritual, physical and intellectual. The operations of each individual vary, which is dependent upon temperament and personality dimension. Your disposition to these points of influence depends on your awareness on how they affect your take and decision and how you perceive others. People who are in tune to their spirituality will likely be influenced by a leader who can affect their spiritual life, nonetheless; those who are more in tune with their senses will be influenced based on how they feel about the leader; and those who are more in tune with their intellect will value their leaders based on logic/reason and how intelligent they are or present themselves.

In a broader sense, when you are able to type your personality dimension, you will come to the knowledge of how you are always being influenced by those who lead you without you realizing it. This further defines your likeness to specific kinds of individuals who look forward to be elected in some kind of political leadership that requires you to vote. In the subsequent essays, I will further explain the dynamics of influence along temperaments and personality dimensions so that you can be sure that you are not being manipulated by leaders who understand this dynamics, especially, in political leadership.

To discover your temperament and personality dimension, whether as a leader or follower, sign up into the School of Leadership Development (SOLD) an arm of IDB Consult coming next week with a Saturday free weekend class for everyone.

In my next essay I shall be discussing the two kinds of followers with their corresponding dynamics of influences associated with each of them and your disposition to getting the intended result without having to manipulate your way through.

Elvis C. Umez
Leadership Consultant
School of Leadership Development (SOLD)
IDB Consult

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