"Who wants to lead this project?" What's your response when you hear this question? Are you the type to immediately volunteer and jump into action, or are you the type to sit back and let someone else assume the role?
You might think it's easy to tell whether you're a natural leader or a follower, but even if you're capable of being a leader, that doesn't necessarily mean you're cut out for it. Being a leader doesn't mean having the loudest voice in the room or the most ideas. Instead, it has more to do with how you make others feel—and how others feel when they're around you.
Do People Naturally Gravitate Toward You?
When you're a natural leader, people have a tendency to gravitate toward you. They may look to you for advice, hang on to your every word, and listen attentively whenever you speak. The influence you have on others is undeniable, and your counsel is treated as invaluable.
However, this doesn't mean you're the loudest in the room, or that you're a leader just because you're the kind of person who speaks over everyone else. The next time you walk into a room, try putting it to the test: pay close attention to how people react once you step in and when you start talking—that can often be a big indicator.
How Comfortable Are You Taking Initiative?
A major sign that you're more of a follower than a leader is if you avoid taking initiative. Leaders often like starting and guiding group conversations, and are the first to jump on opportunities to stand in the center whenever they arise. They know how to plan and get things moving, and aren't afraid to voice their ideas, no matter how small or big. Followers, on the other hand, prefer to keep out of the spotlight and stay in the shadows.
Leaders don't just take initiative; they know how to take responsibility. That means they're okay with taking the blame if a proposal fails, even if it wasn't their fault. But, unlike followers, they don't usually see taking accountability for failures as a bad thing; rather, they tend to think optimistically and reframe the situation as a way to push themselves—and the team—further and to take a different approach.
Are You Risk-Averse?
It comes as no surprise that leaders are more comfortable taking risks than followers. Leaders like to dream big and go far; followers tend to stick to what they know best. This difference between the two often explains why leaders are more likely to take initiative and accountability.
This doesn't mean that followers are always risk-averse, though. It just means that followers move more slowly and aren't as impulsive as natural leaders are. To some, this might seem like a good thing, but if you always wait until the stage is set before you finally take the first step, you may miss out on rare opportunities.
Confidence Is Key
At the end of the day, confidence is key. Not all leaders are popular and well-liked, but they know how to stand by their choices and push through in order to make the decisions they believe are right. They aren't so easily swayed, unlike followers, who often prefer complete harmony and group approval.
That confidence doesn't mean leaders never doubt themselves, but being natural risk-takers, it does mean that they're more willing to act despite uncertainty. In fact, they have so much trust in their initial judgment that they're okay with pushing forward, even if it means their idea might not work, and that they might end up being wrong.
Perhaps the most important trait that shows you're more of a leader than a follower is the ability to bring a group together and keep everyone involved. When people feel comfortable sharing their voice and opinions with you, and don't feel ignored or left out, that makes you someone others naturally trust and want to rally behind.
