We’re Not All Leaders, but We Can All Contribute

Ever since I was young, I have heard about the importance of being a leader. My peers and I were always encouraged to take on leadership roles and “step up to the plate” as much as possible. In fact, we were taught that we should strive to be leaders in our adult lives. Leadership was idealized. However, not everyone is a leader. Some people are naturally followers and prefer to let others take charge. So are individuals who act as followers less valuable than leaders, and are their contributions less significant? 

Definitely not. Natural followers have a different way of contributing to society than leaders, but those contributions are just as important. I believe that we are misguiding children when we teach them that an ideal role is one of leadership. Rather than telling children to be leaders, we should be teaching them to be contributors. This can mean contributing to their surroundings in whatever way best suits their strengths, whether by leading or loyally following.  

Let’s clarify the difference between a contributor, a leader and a follower. A contributor is someone who gives to their community in any capacity. A leader is someone who gives to their community by providing an example that inspires others to do their part and look outside of themselves. A follower is someone who responds to the example set by the leader, benefiting their community by manifesting this example. Both of these contributing roles are valuable and can be filled by praiseworthy and respectable individuals who live meaningful lives. We even see in the Torah that both leaders and followers are important. Throughout Tanakh, we read about many great leaders who shaped Jewish history, but we are also instructed to be “ovdei Hashem,” servants of Hashem. Even Moshe Rabbeinu, one of our greatest leaders, is exclusively called an “eved Hashem,” by his death, emphasizing that his greatest accomplishment was being a dedicated follower.

So why is such a strong emphasis placed on being a leader when both groups make tremendous contributions? In my opinion, leaders are valued more because their dedication and efforts are more easily recognized. A leader is in the spotlight, so when they positively — or negatively — impact their environment, it is apparent for all to see. Followers, on the other hand, are not usually the center of attention, so their actions seem to carry less weight. However, both dedicated followers and leaders put tremendous amounts of effort into the causes they believe in; both bear great responsibility and both deserve a lot of credit. Instead of hearing about leadership alone, children should therefore be taught the value of both roles. 

One may argue that it is dangerous to teach children that it is acceptable to be a follower, as they may become too impressionable and end up following a leader who does not represent their values. However, one can teach children the value of confidence and standing up for their beliefs while still teaching them that they can carry out those beliefs as leaders and followers. Being a follower does not inherently mean sacrificing one’s values, nor does it mean being lesser than a leader. 

It is also important to acknowledge that sometimes leaders and followers must step out of their comfort zones to assume roles that do not come naturally to them. When there are too many leaders in a group, some may have to learn to contribute by helping manifest someone else’s vision, even if they may be accustomed to manifesting their own. When there are not enough leaders in a group, some followers have to step up and become leaders. These roles are never set in stone. 

Overall, both leaders and followers can contribute tremendously to their surroundings, and no one group should feel that their role is more or less important than the other. It’s time to stop teaching children that they are most valuable when they are leaders, but rather teach them that finding a way to contribute, big or small, is what matters. Let’s raise the next generation to be proud of their strengths, no matter what they are. 

Photo caption: Friends’ hands piled together

Photo credit: Hannah Busing / Unsplash