Leaders as followers: don’t forget governance

Purpose Much has been written in the annals of leadership about the traits, characteristics, context, manifestations and types of leaders. More recently, followership has emerged as an important area of study for leaders and followers alike. This article explores the often forgotten or ignored reality that virtually all leaders are, in fact, followers when one considers the mechanism that grants leaders their agency – governance. Design/methodology/approach Based on the author’s experience as a CEO, board member and scholar in the fields of leadership, followership, governance and business management. Findings Governance is often overlooked or ignored, which is a mistake, especially given its importance to management development. Practical implications Helping leaders, managers and scholars understand the ubiquity and importance of governance. Originality/value I have not seen any other articles that address these findings.