Unleash the Power of Natural Followership
We redefine what it means to be a leader and a follower.
Rethink. Rediscover. Revolutionize.
Most of what we know about leadership and followership comes from studies in structured environments — like the workplace, political organizations, or the military. At NaturalFollowership.com, we go back to basics. We explore how these roles naturally emerge in everyday situations and more fluid environments.
Ready to unlock the power of natural followership, authentic leadership, and true collaborationship?
Welcome to Naturalfollowership.com!
What if the secret to better leadership isn’t about leading, but understanding why we follow?
In Why We Follow, followership expert Christian Monö flips traditional leadership thinking on its head. Drawing on research and real-world examples, he reveals how leader-focused mindsets hold us back. They stifle innovation, block collaboration, and even threaten democracy.
At the heart of this thought-provoking book is “natural followership”, a new concept that redefines what it means to lead and follow.
Whether you’re a part of a team, managing a company, or hoping to spark a movement, Why We Follow will offer new and inspiring insights. Let natural followership guide you in today’s fast-changing, interconnected world.
A power mightier than any form of leadership
Most studies on leadership and followership have been conducted in non-natural environments like offices, schools, and the armed forces. Studying leadership and followership in such controlled and regulated settings has affected our interpretation of what it means to be a leader or follower.
I’ve spent almost two decades studying how and why people follow leaders in natural settings. That is, in settings where people are free to choose who they want to follow, when they want to follow, and for how long.
This work has led me to the discovery of “natural followership” as well as a collaborative process I call “collaborationship.”The workplace is not a natural environment. The same holds true for schools, political parties, armies, and sports teams. Yet nearly all studies on leadership and followership are done in these kinds of environments.
There’s power in natural followership. When unleashed, it’s far stronger than any form of leadership. To unlock this potential, we must not only understand the evolutionary origins of natural leadership and followership. We must also let go of traditional leader and follower myths.
In April 2024, I was awarded the Followership Award of Distinction at the Global Followership Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
Are you disappointed by the lack of results or profitability?
Do you want to unleash your team’s creativity and ignite innovation?
Are you grappling with conflicts, passive behavior, and a lack of accountability within your team?
Winner of 2024 Followership Award of Distinction
Natural Followership and Why it is Important
This article was published 2024 in Developing Leaders Quarterly
“Since the early 1900s, the idea of leadership has infiltrated every facet of society. It is sought after, trained for, discussed, and analyzed everywhere – from business and politics to sports and arts. But what is a leader? What is the official definition? If you don’t know, it is because there isn’t one. Scholars and experts cannot agree on what a leader is. The only thing they agree upon is that leaders are important. Yet, how do we know leaders are important if we don’t know what a leader is?”
