Leadership Begins With How We Follow
This week, as we reflect on personal leadership, I want to challenge each of you to think not only about how we lead—but also about how we follow.
In my 32 years in nursing, 24 years of military leadership, and my time as CEO of a Level III trauma center, one truth has always held: the best leaders are those who first learned to be thoughtful, disciplined followers.
Following Isn’t Blind Agreement
Being a strong follower doesn’t mean nodding along or silencing your perspective. It means:
Listening fully before responding.
Showing respect—even when you disagree.
Processing feedback with maturity.
Approaching every situation as an opportunity to learn.
When we become consumed by small details—when we obsess over “iotas” instead of understanding the broader concepts—or when we fixate on pointing out others’ errors, we risk losing sight of the bigger picture. Fault-finding blinds us not only to the growth of others, but also to our own.
The Role of Self-Awareness
True leadership requires more than positional authority—it requires self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Passive-aggressive behaviors, a constant need to “be right,” or the habit of tearing others down have no place in professional leadership—and certainly no place in shaping future leaders.
Grace, humility, and open-mindedness are what earn leaders lasting trust and respect.
Reflective Questions for Growth
As you move through this week, ask yourself:
How well do I follow at work?
How well do I follow in the classroom?
Am I listening to understand, or am I listening to find fault?
Am I engaging with the spirit of learning, or am I distracted by the need to prove a point?
Great leaders rise above the urge to criticize. Instead, they focus on collaboration, growth, and the pursuit of excellence.
Breaking the Cycle in Nursing
There’s a phrase often spoken in our profession: “nurses eat their young.” That is unique to nursing—and it should never be a point of pride. It reflects a culture where fault-finding and harshness overshadow guidance and support.
As leaders, we have a responsibility to break that cycle. To mentor rather than criticize. To support rather than belittle. To ensure that the next generation of nurses—and leaders—enter a profession defined not by fear, but by collaboration and growth.
Final Thought
Leadership doesn’t begin with the title on your badge. It begins with how you show up, how you listen, and how you follow. Because in the end, the way we follow shapes the way we lead.