Individuals don’t want to follow anybody and don’t want anybody
following them. They just want to do what they believe they were
born to do. However, individuals often create tensions in a
group. We can see this more easily if we invert the introductory
quote to say, “If you’re not a follower, then you’re a leader.”
I often use Dirty Harry as an allegoric example since he creates
tension for leaders and followers. First, his talent makes him
indispensable to leaders; however, his solitary approach shrugs
followers. Second, this means leaders feel more dependent upon
him than they would like to feel, and followers feel rejected by
him. As a result, since individuals aren’t followers, leaders’
will likely feel they are trying to be leaders, thus,
threatening or disrespecting their leadership. Consequently,
frequently the ones who say, “If you’re not a leader, you’re a
follower,” are leaders subtly reinforcing their positions in the
minds of the rest. Moreover, followers will likely make the same
mistake, assumi