Leaders make decisions on policy and oversee the development of plans for how an organization will achieve its mission. Followers implement these plans. The qualities of an effective follower are intelligence, independent thinking, self-reliance, and dependability. Intelligence enables followers to think for themselves without being overly dependent on their supervisors in performing their duties. Independent thinking means a person does not wait to be told what to do, but rather looks ahead in order to determine what needs to be done within the parameters of the job. Self-reliance allows followers to function without specific instructions from their supervisors, and dependability means that a follower can be trusted to follow directives essential to the achievement of organizational goals. An effective leader-follower relationship is a cooperative relationship of equals who share a common mission that involves different responsibilities equally important in achieving the organizational mission. The climate of the organization plays a pivotal role in the development of effective followers. The organizational climate must fuel the motivation to be a good follower by recognizing the importance of proficient front-line work and rewarding it appropriately. An organization whose leaders foster their superior status and demean the importance of front-line workers will undermine the morale of those who determine whether or not the organization succeeds in its mission. 2 notes