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The Exemplary Follower (C, H)
This course-long project asks students to find and interview exemplary followers in their
community. This can be a group research project or an individual project. This project may
require IRB approval for studying human subjects. The instructor should check the
institution’s policy.
The research can be scaffolded in stages over the term:
a. Where are the exemplary followers? Have students look up: (a) employees on campus
who have received awards for contributions to the academic program, or staff
members who have contributed to the well-being of students; (b) employees of local
b. The student(s) should find at least five (and preferably eight or more) exemplary
followers to interview over the course of the term.
c. Set up interview dates and times.
d. Develop an interview protocol using concepts from Chapter 12. Example:
• What do you like about your job? About your company?
• What motivates you to give your best at work?
• How do you make sure the work gets done?
• How do you support the company’s/school’s mission?
• What suggestions for improvement have you made to your supervisor, or to the
company? Have they been implemented?
• What have you learned from your coworkers or supervisor?
• How do you support your coworkers and your supervisor?
• Do you have any role models who inspire(d) you?
• How did you feel about receiving this award?
e. Send thank you notes to all interviewees for their time.
f. Analyze the followers’ characteristics, behaviors, and motivations. What patterns
emerge? What are the similarities and differences among exemplary followers? Are
the differences contextual (e.g., public school vs. corporate) or demographic (gender,
age)? Do the characteristics and behaviors fit any of the followership typologies in
Chapter 12? What new information do they provide? What new questions do they
raise?
g. Apply the findings to Figure 12.6--the Reversing the Lens Model. How do the data
explain how the arrows work in this model?
h. What take-away lessons about followership are there from this event? What are some
best practices we can adopt in our own workplaces? What more would the students
