Toward Construct Clarity in Followership Research
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15735539 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mary Uhl‐bien (Texas Christian University, corresponding author), MELISSA K CARSTEN (0000-0003-0643-8890, Appalachian State University), Toby Newstead (0000-0003-4678-7593, University of Tasmania) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 165-193 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-22 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2327-0608 • E-ISSN: 2327-0616 |
| Publisher | Annual Reviews (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110622-040329 |
| OpenAlex | W4414403047 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 36 |
Accelerating interest in followership research and practice is advancing development of followership as a field of study. Despite this, many are still confused by what followership is and how it differs from leadership. Findings from our review of followership research show that of the papers self-identified as followership, nearly half are more accurately described as leadership or general employee behavior (and not followership). Of the papers categorized as followership, nearly all use reversing the lens approaches, with less than 10% categorized as co-creation. Using these findings and drawing from the literature, we delineate theoretical boundaries between leadership, followership, and employeeship to help drive construct clarity in followership research. We also simplify previous conceptualizations of followership into two main categories of studies that emerged in our review: reversing the lens and co-creation approaches. We conclude by using paradigm interplay between reversing the lens and co-creation approaches to show how we can realize the potential and promise of followership by advancing theoretical frameworks that position leadership/followership as a co-creation
CLARITY · Construct (python library · Field (mathematics · Followership · Family and Disability Support Research · Mental Health and Patient Involvement
Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe
How does employee voice influence empowering leadership? The effects of voice tactics and gender
Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol
The study of followers in leadership research
The evolution of leadership
When subordinates do not follow
How subjective ethical congruence facilitates leadership identification construction
Followership at a distance
Leadership in interprofessional healthcare teams
The Bottom-Up Impact of Proactive Personality on Employee Job Crafting
Uncertainty–Identity Theory
Implicit Leadership Theories, Implicit Followership Theories, and Dynamic Processing of Leadership Information
Employee followership predispositions
Effect of leaders' implicit followership prototypes on employees' internal and external marketability
When do leaders feel stressed by their followers? An examination of face-to-face, virtual and written interactions
Waiting for Godot
Leader perceptions and motivation as outcomes of followership role orientation and behavior
Emotional responses of leaders to passive versus active members
Exploring the Bounds of Pygmalion Effects
The Power of Followers That do not Follow
How the Influence of Unethical Leaders on Followers Is Affected by Their Implicit Followership Theories
I follow, therefore I lead
Cheap talk? Follower sarcasm reduces leader overpay by increasing accountability
The primary foundations of followership
Our Followers Are Lions, Theirs Are Sheep
Does a competent leader make a good friend? Conflict, ideology and the psychologies of friendship and followership
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |