Exploring followership influence on a leader’s value system development

Abstract

Literature shows that leadership cannot exist without followership, therefore the lens within research has been reversed from leadership to followership. My study answered the call for more research on the Theory of Basic Individual Values, value system development and followership, focusing on the influence of followership on the leaders’ value system development. Followership influence is an important context variable that influence leadership outcomes. Understanding how this variable interacted with leadership is an important scholarly pursuit. However, research on this topic is slim, with several theoretical limitations within this line of inquiry. My research provided a comprehensive review of the extant research on followership influence on leadership. In total, 24 interviews were held with 12 senior leaders meeting specific criteria, namely senior leaders operating in South Africa (SA), leaders with followers reporting to them, and leaders from flat-structured companies. As two interviews were held with each leader, the first interview obtained stories of followership influence on the leader’s value system, and the second interview ensured all aspects of a story were covered. The Theory of Basic Individual Values was used in my research, aiding in explaining human behaviour. Values are invaluable in explaining personal change characterising societies and individuals, tracing this change over time, and explaining the motivation behind behaviour. A leader’s value system is an essential part of their leadership. There were 42 stories shared about followership influence on the leaders’ value system development. Narrative analysis resulted in several key stories that served to answer the research question of how followership influences leaders' value system development. My study found that leaders possess a hierarchy of importance of values, and that followership influenced leaders’ value system by challenging the leader’s values. My research identifies followership as an antecedent to leadership development and value system development. Two approaches were identified, namely followership influence and reciprocal influence. These findings add to the Theory of Basic Individual Values and literature on leadership development, value system development and followership.