Why the Best Leaders Start in the Back Row
Steve Jobs. Serena Williams. Yo-Yo Ma.
Different fields, same formula: they all became legends by first being obsessive followers of their craft.
The best leaders I’ve met all started as world-class followers.
"He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader"- Aristotle
Think about it. Great authors read obsessively. Great musicians are fans of other great artists. Great athletes are students of the game, watching tape like it’s their job, because it is. Observing is how mastery begins.
In neuroscience, this has a name: observational learning. Mirror neurons are specialized brain cells that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action. This means that when you watch another person do something your mirror neurons become active as if you were performing the action yourself. This mirroring underpins our ability to learn by watching, imitate behaviors, and even understand the emotions and intentions of others. Watching others isn’t passive. It’s a powerful and active experience in our brains.
Following well teaches us how to listen, adapt, and support. It builds empathy. It trains us to see the bigger picture. When we skip that phase—or rush through it—we miss out on the foundational wiring leaders need.
This really hit home for me many years ago when I first transitioned from store manager to the corporate office. I went from leading people to individual contributor. It gave me a different perspective to observe my leaders and I learned a ton—some good and some bad—but all valuable. And I’ve paid careful attention to all of my leaders since.
Here are five ways to follow well (and set yourself up to lead better):
Shadow the right people. Identify a leader who inspires you, and learn how they make decisions, navigate conflict, and support their team.
Study the room. Great followers read the dynamics of meetings, anticipate needs, and act before being asked.
Ask targeted questions. Not “how did you get your job?”—ask what they’ve learned about motivating people or handling mistakes. Make your curiosity useful.
Build your own leadership playbook. Keep a journal of leadership moments you admire. Over time, it becomes a custom guide to your own future leadership style.
Following is an active training ground. Those who follow well, lead better.
