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Follow the Leader -- Maybe

There are a number of lists out there to serve as career or life checklists. You can go to Inc. or HBR and find a number of them. I have referred to a few in my previous posts. For example, there is not only a list of what successful people do, but also what hyper-successful people do! 
There's also a lot of content out there about the characteristics of leaders. But what about the followers? Who talks about them? Here's what I think "followers" are thinking about leaders when determining whether they want to follow or not. 
  
Followers (We) / Leader (You)

  1. We don't have to like you, but we sure as hell have to respect you. Even if you are an as*hole, at least you have the expertise, experience, and reputation so that we can respect you for what you know. 
  2. If we don't respect you, then we  better like you. Likability goes a long, long way. There are plenty of really nice, incompetent people that go far in life.
  3. Be consistent in your decision making- both verbally and in your behaviors. Don't tell us one thing and then behave otherwise. A lot of people call this authenticity. A leader that acts like he or she is made of Teflon and acts one way in front of some and in a completely opposite way in front of others will instantly lose his or her degree of influence and trust.
  4. Defend your team and teammates. It goes a long way when you defend your team's point of view of position in front of others.
  5. As soon as you take credit for something the team has done without giving them credit, you've lost credibility with those that are most important- your team's. This is self explanatory. 
  6. Don't act like you know everything. Because you don't.
  7. Don't lead like you are following a process. Leaders amplify their strengths and personalities and know how to remix a thing or two. Don't act like you think a leader should act, just be one.
A lot of this may be generational. Or it could just be my point of view. But every leader, regardless of title or position, has an evaluation period by his or her employees (i.e., "followers."). If you, as a leader, fail that evaluation period, you'll be like Will Ferrell in Old School and go streaking across the quad--  by yourself. 

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