A challenge to nursing: promoting followers as well as leaders

It is believed that 70% of our lives is spent in the role of follower. Even so, the focus in formal education and seminars remains leadership issues because of the unfavorable stereotypes that accompany the term follower. Nurturing effective followership requires doing away with the misconception that leaders do all the thinking and followers mindlessly heed orders. Can followers and leaders ever be deemed separate but equal? It is vital to understand that, without effective followers in nursing, our leaders face severe limitations. Current leaders and educators must share and promote the vision of enlightened followership if nursing is to achieve its potential.