"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers."- Ralph Nader.
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Leadership is about building capacity and making sure it becomes the norm between the people who are being empowered.
Being a leader is not about gathering followers and making them follow but to make them see themselves as being strong enough to make decisions that will impact others.
Followers are primed to be followers until they are pushed to think outside the box and step out to take responsibilities and act for and on the behalf of others.
I have had quite some stints with the leadership and followership group and I can tell you for free that, most people will rather just follow rather than lead because, it is the easiest thing to do.
Lead and let the people you lead be taught the ability to lead when that opportunity presents itself. Don't make your followers stay followers longer than necessary, the world is in need of leaders are there are quite a dozen of followers with no idea how they can be helpful to their world by leading.
I serve as a leader in my campus, most times we are reminded to raise successors. The quote by Ralph Nader speaks exactly on that, leadership is about raising people who can serve and succeed us and not followers who lack the leadership abilities