Posted on by Belladonna

Weak Where?

Daily writing prompt
Are you a leader or a follower?
View all responses

Some people are natural-born leaders, and others are not so much!

There are a lot of mixed feelings about followers. They have a not-so-flattering reputation for being weak, which is beyond wrong. If we were all leaders, too many type-A personalities would roam around butting heads.

When I was young, I thought being a follower meant, “If my dear friend or someone I thought highly of jumped off the bridge, then I would jump too.” Now I know that sounds beyond stupid, but I was told followers were weak and brainlessly did what they saw and were told. But aren’t we all followers?

I mean, we can’t lead all the time, can we?

We would leave little to no room to learn if we were always leading. And we know from good leaders. In fact, if you want to be a good leader, you need to learn from just that.

Not long ago, I wrote a poem titled, Walk mE homE. That poem demonstrated that I want to trust and hold my husband’s hand when I need him most. I follow him when I need guidance, and he follows me when he needs the same. 

Weak Where?

Contrary to popular belief, Being a follower alone does not make you weak. However, the types of people that you follow are more of an indicator of your strength or weakness. When you choose to follow people that will enhance your intellectual, spiritual, and financial self (only to name a few), you choose to do this not because you’re weak. But more so because you are aware of what you need to grow.

So the question is, Are you a leader or a follower? My answer is I’m both. 

You could have chosen any blog to read, but you chose mine, and I’m honored!

~Belladonna~

83 Replies to “Weak Where?”

  2. Reminds me of that song…
    “Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
    Make it part of you to be a part of me
    Follow me up and down all the way
    Take my hand and say you’ll follow me” As a baby boomer I was groomed to follow and I’ve had to unlearn much of this training and explore my leaderships skills on occasion. Nevertheless, I’m often most comfortable following. Great topic, hugs, C

    Reply

    1. Great song!!!!! From reading your blog for so long and your book it seems like you have a great balance. Knowing when to follow and doing a hell of a job as leader with your kids and writing. I really liked this prompt. Hugs to you!!!

      Reply

  3. I agree Belladonna. I am both as well. There is a time and purpose for each role. When you grow in wisdom, you will know when it it time to take on which role. That last quote is spot on. I have not encountered a “great” leader who encouraged independent thinking and creativity unless they were in a bind. 😝

    Reply

      1. You said it sistah! When you know, you KNOW! We live and we learn, and we learn some more, and we learn some more!!! 🤔👩🏽‍🏫👩🏽‍🎓

  7. I am mixing with a leader and a follower when I do any project then I am leader when I work under someone then follower 😄

    Reply

  8. I think every strong leader knows when it is the right time to step back and let others lead. 🌟 Every parent should be a leader with the flexibility to know when to follow their children.

    Reply

  10. Like your answer and had similar experience when I was young. Later in the company I turned to a leader, based on social and engineering skills.

    Reply

  14. It is a cycle. Every leader was a follower, again when you are going to learn again (in any of the fields, either concept, skills, etc.)
    you become a follower
    Leader is not a word or a position. it matters your attitude

    Reply

  15. Very wise words, here. I agree. We all do both, at times, and following someone is not a weakness. Unless they are not worthy of being followed, but that’s a whole different subject.

    Reply
  24. Pingback: Weak Where? – Branded gamis muslimah

Leave a Reply

WordPress.com.
%d bloggers like this: