Why do Employees Follow Leaders as opposed to Managers? An initial study into Tesco Musselburgh.

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this body of work is to allow the reader to understand the importance of leadership and followership, with regards to why employee’s follower leaders. Throughout this piece the importance of each will be critically evaluated allowing the reader to get a new or developed understanding on management, leadership and followership. Design/ Methodology/ Approach This piece will adapt qualitative methodology and through the use of semistructured interviews will allow the researcher to show the reader how employees and managers truly react in the workplace. Findings The findings show that followership is still not largely known in the workplace. There is an understanding that when explained, followership is important to the workplace cohesion. Also, the finding show that employees as well as managers know there is a difference between a manager and a leader and can describe their feelings towards each. Limitations When conducting the research for this project the researcher found it difficult to find a bank of knowledge on followership, this had to be taken into account when conducting field research. Time implications tested the researcher as Tesco hit a busy period with no overtime, which made the researcher adapt their timescale. Implications Manager and employees must become more self-aware of their actions, every action has a knock-on effect. If followership can be discussed, researched and developed organisations will have a new ability to evolve.