Enhancing Authentic Leadership-Followership: Strengthening School Relationships

Much has been written about leadership in schools, but little mention has been made of followership. The article provides an awareness and foundation for future discussions about school followership. In 1992, Robert Kelly wrote "The Power of Followership," which explains and analyses the world of followers and their relationship to leaders. Kelly's framework provides the groundwork for this article and the important authentic leader-follower relationships that drives the life of a school, with particular attention to the teacher. We move back and forth along this leadership and followership continuum during our lives. Research questions include: Why do people choose to follow? Are there different types of followers? How can the leadership-followership relationship be nurtured in a school? The development of relationships that contribute to leadership-followership will be examined through the application of practical in-school activities with students and staff. Recent teacher feedback from over 400 Canadian teachers suggests that an effective school has established a balanced authentic leadership-followership dynamic that provides opportunities for all members of the school community, regardless of role, to participate.