Follow the Follower: Why Good Leaders Must Be Good Followers First

In today's social media-driven world, having followers is considered the ultimate status symbol. Many pride themselves on amassing thousands of followers while following few or none in return. This mentality has crept into our leadership philosophy—we celebrate those who appear self-made, independent, and answerable to no one.

But what if this approach to leadership is fundamentally flawed? What if the most effective leaders are actually those who have learned to be excellent followers first?

The Cultural Contradiction of Following

"In our society, to be a follower is to be weak, to be blind, to be a sheep," the saying goes. We've created a culture that celebrates having followers but scorns the act of following itself.

This creates a dangerous leadership vacuum. Consider the childhood game "Follow the Leader." It seems harmless enough, but there's a profound flaw in its design: everyone follows except the leader. When the leader has no one to follow, what happens if they don't know where they're going? What if they're simply wandering aimlessly, with everyone obediently trailing behind?

Jesus addressed this exact scenario in Matthew 15:14 when he warned, "Leave them alone; they are blind guides leading blind followers. If a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit."

The warning is clear: be careful who you follow. And for those who lead: be careful who you're following.

Our Natural Tendency to Stray

Isaiah 53:5-7 reveals a fundamental truth about human nature: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way."

This passage contains two important insights about leadership. First, every single one of us—without exception—has a natural tendency to stray from the right path. No one is immune to this drift. Leaders who believe they're above this tendency are especially vulnerable.

Second, the passage reveals the cost of true leadership. Before describing our sheep-like wandering, Isaiah describes the Messiah who was "pierced for our transgressions," "crushed for our iniquities," and "wounded" for our healing.

Leadership isn't about position and recognition; it's about responsibility and sacrifice. Many who pursue leadership roles want the attention without the accountability, the platform without the pain. Yet true leadership often requires being "oppressed and afflicted" without "opening your mouth" to complain—even when the situation isn't your fault.

The True Meaning of Following

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus delivers a sobering warning about superficial following:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father... Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

There's a critical difference between claiming to follow and actually following through. Some follow at a distance, like Peter during Jesus' arrest—professing loyalty with their words while their actions tell a different story.

Many follow only to the extent that it gets them what they want. They want to be seen as followers without the uncomfortable commitment of follow-through. True follow-through happens when no one is watching, when no one is supervising or reminding you of your commitments.

Most alarming in this passage is that those Jesus rejects had impressive spiritual resumes—prophecy, exorcism, miracles. Yet their external achievements couldn't compensate for their lack of authentic relationship. "I never knew you," Jesus says, revealing that following isn't about doing things for Jesus but about knowing and being known by him.

Jesus: The Ultimate Follower-Leader

Perhaps the most revolutionary concept in Christian leadership is that Jesus himself—fully God incarnate—modeled what it means to be a follower. In John 5:19-20, he explains:

"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does."

Think about the implications: Jesus—with all power and authority—declared, "I can do nothing by myself." If Christ himself operated through submission and obedience, how can we possibly justify self-sufficient, independent leadership?

Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing. This answers many theological questions about his ministry. Why did he heal some and not others? Why did some miracles happen in certain places but not in his hometown? The answer: perfect obedience to the Father's will.

This obedience wasn't blind or forced—it flowed from relationship. "The Father loves the Son and shows him all he does." Jesus' following was based on intimacy, trust, and love.

The Danger of Following Those Who Don't Follow

One of the most dangerous scenarios in leadership is following someone who isn't themselves following a worthy guide. This creates a chain of blind leadership that ultimately leads to destruction.

Picture this: You follow someone you respect and trust. They seem knowledgeable and competent. But you never check who they're following. If they're following someone headed in the wrong direction, or worse, following no one at all, where will you end up?

This reality exposes the importance of apostolic succession—not merely in the formal ecclesiastical sense, but in the sense of being able to trace the lineage of who is following whom. In authentic spiritual leadership, you should be able to track the chain of influence all the way back to Christ himself.

As Paul boldly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1-3: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." Notice he didn't say "be impersonators"—pretending to be something you're not—but imitators who actually embody the same principles and practices.

The Ultimate Leadership Strategy: Follow Christ to the Cross Before the Crown

The culminating principle of godly leadership is this: We follow Christ to the cross before the crown.

Many aspiring leaders want the crown—the authority, recognition, and influence—without first embracing the cross—the sacrifice, suffering, and surrender. But Jesus' invitation has always been clear: "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me."

1 Peter 2:21 reminds us: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

True leadership never skips the crucifixion to get to the coronation. The path to genuine influence always passes through self-denial and sacrifice.

Four Principles for Authentic Following and Leading

As we seek to become leaders who follow well, here are four guiding principles:

You don't have to force following if you're worth following. People naturally gravitate toward leaders with integrity who embody consistency and walk their talk. If you find yourself constantly having to assert your authority, the problem might not be with your followers but with your leadership.
You shouldn't be a headache if you're the head. Leadership based on manipulation and position rather than principles and character creates unnecessary friction. As 1 John 2:3-5 reminds us, knowing God is demonstrated through obedience, not credentials.
Follow through is more important than following in name only. Many claim the title of follower while their actions reveal a different allegiance. True following is demonstrated through consistent obedience when no one is watching.
Check who you're following and who they're following. Never follow blindly. Even the most trusted leader can drift off course. Constantly evaluate whether those you follow are themselves following Christ.

Conclusion: The Paradox of Spiritual Leader

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The ultimate paradox of spiritual leadership is this: the greatest leaders are the greatest followers. The most influential people are those most deeply submitted to Christ's authority. The strongest are those humble enough to acknowledge their need for guidance.

As you develop as a leader, never outgrow being a follower. Constantly ask yourself:

Who am I following?
Where are they leading me?
Are they themselves following Christ?
Am I following at a distance or with full commitment?

Remember, Jesus didn't say "Come and reign with me" but "Come, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me."

In a world obsessed with leading, perhaps our greatest need is to rediscover the art of following well—following the One who himself perfectly followed the Father, even to death on a cross.