Published Paper Details:

The importance of followers in the leader-follower relationship has been overlooked in leadership research, with scholars often prioritizing the study of leadership itself, as noted by Meindl's "The Romance of Leadership". However, it is crucial to recognize that successful execution and goal achievement heavily rely on the actions and attitudes of followers. Given the current COVID-19 situation and widespread adoption of remote work culture, there has been a permanent shift in the dynamics of leadership and followership in favour of the latter. The purpose of this research is to provide a valuable contribution to the academic field by conducting an empirical investigation of Kelley's The Followership Questionnaire (TFQ), specifically focusing on its sub-scales of Independent Critical Thinking (ICT) and Active Engagement (AE), within the Indian context. Specifically, the study seeks to identify prevalent followership styles within a chosen organization and analyse the relationship between these styles and demographic variables. By administering the Followership Questionnaire to 228 participants from the State of Maharashtra in India, this study can shed light on the importance of followership in the leader-follower relationship, particularly in the context of the prevalent work from home culture and ongoing pandemic. The findings of this study have practical implications for leadership practices and strategies aimed at fostering more effective relationships between leaders and their followers. Ultimately, the research highlights the need to recognize the critical role of followers in achieving organizational success and emphasizes the importance of studying followership in various contexts.