Courtesy of Bowie State University
Almost 200 representatives from nations from around the globe, including faculty and students from Bowie State University, attended the 3rd Annual Global Followership Conference at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland to exchange information about the importance of learning how to recognize and utilize strong followers to achieve goals and objectives set by organizations.
Conference organizers sought to elevate and highlight followership skills and the numerous benefits to people, their careers, various organizations and society. Many believe there has been too much emphasis placed on leaders and leadership skills that hasn’t always resulted in positive engagement for all team members.
“Followership balances the scales,” said Dr. Wendy Edmonds, interim chair, management, marketing & public administration in the College of Business and co-chair of the conference. “We need to promote interdependent relationships between leaders and followers. The act of following an idea, a mission or another person is a choice, not a description. Followership is the force that powers teams, organizations and movements that shape the world.”
Edmonds was recognized by the conference for her contributions to the field and expertise in toxic followership. She received the Followership Award of Distinction for advancing followership and educating individuals on its principles in academia and within the community.
Conference attendees and leaders championed moving from leader-centric to partner-centric approaches to solve problems and establish more balance in academia and industry.
“Anyone who is concerned about retention, engagement, succession planning, high performing team members and a healthy organizational culture in a technology driven workplace needs to learn more about followership skills,” said Edmonds. “It is as important, and in some cases, more important than developing great leaders.”