Followership: A Study Exploring the Variables of Exemplary Followership

Abstract

This dissertation investigates exemplary followership and multiple variables identified as possible predictors of exemplary followership. The study examines relationship between exemplary followership and: organizational citizenship behavior sub-factors of individual and organizational; psychological collectivism; and team player. The topic was chosen as it relates to the evolution of employees in the workplace wherein employees in a follower role are more accountable to the performance of the organization. Moreover, most of the existing research on followership are through the lens of leadership and based in theory with little contribution to empirical evidence. Organizations and leaders are more dependent on the performance of their followers than before, and the need for exemplary followers is higher than before to meet evolving organizational needs. This dissertation examines predictor variables of exemplary followership and how to develop those variables to improve exemplary followership behaviors.