Ajay: Thats a pretty big poster of the superstar on your desk. Are you a fan?
Rajith: Oh, Im his biggest fan! But lately his movies have been bombing at the box office. Even a hardcore fan like me couldnt digest his latest one.
Ajay: Thats sad.
Rajith: I just dont get it. Are we wrong to think that people like him, after all these years of acting and accolades, would be able to spot a bad script when they see one?
Ajay: Many factors could have played a role here – his previous commitments, relations in the industry, a good script going bad in the hands of the director… But a big reason could be that he has stopped thinking like a follower.
Rajith: What do you mean?
Ajay: Theres this widespread notion that there are two kinds of people – those who think like leaders and those who think like followers. But I don’t entirely agree with it. We are living in a world of fluid identities and its important that a leader also thinks like a follower to get a sense of the changing workspace sentiments and to understand the pulse of the larger mass.
Rajith: I guess its not easy.
Ajay: Well, one has to try to not let the stardom or the power that comes with leadership not get into your head. Because, without that connect with your followers who constitute the larger world out there, you start growing comfortable in your own leadership echochamber unaware of the changing dynamics outside. In no time things will come crumbling down.
Rajith: Thats a valuable lesson not just for the superstar, but even for people like me, Ajay.
Ajay: You are the budding stars of tomorrow. As you grow, make forceful efforts to think like a follower. Evaluate your actions by taking a step back. Embrace the duality of being a leader and follower at the same time.