Role-ing within the process: effects of followership education on team member performance

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of followership education on student team performance in competitive environments. By emphasizing the importance of followership, the study aims to address gaps in traditional leadership education, which often overlook the role of effective followership. Using phenomenological methods, the research captures student experiences to understand how followership education fosters adaptability and dynamic role-shifting between leading and following. The findings provide practical insights for educators seeking to enhance team effectiveness and individual leadership development through an increased focus on followership skills. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized a phenomenological approach to explore student experiences with followership education in a competitive environment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine participants, allowing for in-depth exploration of their perceptions. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns related to the impact of followership on team dynamics. The transcriptions were double-checked for accuracy, and coding was conducted collaboratively to ensure reliability. This design allowed us to capture how followership education influences adaptability and role flexibility within student teams. Findings The study found that followership education positively influenced student team dynamics by fostering adaptability and role flexibility. Participants reported increased confidence in navigating both leadership and followership roles, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness and collaborative learning. The themes that emerged from the analysis highlighted the value of psychological safety in enabling students to experiment with different roles. This adaptability was linked to improved team cohesion and performance, demonstrating that followership education is a crucial component of comprehensive leadership development. Research limitations/implications The study’s small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, as it focuses on a specific group of students in a competitive environment. The phenomenological approach emphasizes depth over breadth, which means that while rich insights were obtained, broader conclusions should be drawn cautiously. Additionally, the study relied on self-reported data, which may influence participants’ perceptions and biases. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples and explore followership education in different contexts to further validate these findings and understand their applicability across varied settings. Practical implications The findings suggest that incorporating followership education into leadership programs can enhance student adaptability and team cohesion. Educators can use these insights to create curricula focusing on leadership and followership roles, enabling students to practice role flexibility in real-world scenarios. Instructors can encourage students to experiment with different roles by fostering psychological safety and improving overall team dynamics. The study underscores the value of emphasizing followership as an integral part of leadership development, which can be especially beneficial in preparing students for collaborative and adaptive professional environments. Social implications This study highlights the importance of followership education in creating more collaborative and adaptable teams. By emphasizing the value of followership, educational institutions can foster environments where students learn the significance of both leading and following effectively. These skills are crucial for social settings that require collective problem-solving and shared leadership. Promoting followership education can help address hierarchical mindsets, encourage inclusivity and empower individuals to take initiative within a team context, contributing to healthier organizational cultures and more cohesive communities. Originality/value This study is unique in its focus on followership education within a competitive, team-based environment, addressing a critical gap in traditional leadership programs that often overlook followership. By using a phenomenological approach, the research provides an in-depth exploration of students’ experiences, highlighting the role of followership in fostering adaptability and dynamic team performance. The value lies in offering practical insights for educators on how followership education can be integrated to enhance leadership curricula, contributing to a more balanced understanding of both leading and following as essential components of effective teamwork and leadership development.