How Followership Creates Legacy Leadership

To understand how Luke Donald captained the European Team to a historic win in New York a couple of weeks ago, we need to see how his leadership is steeped heavily following others. 

Firstly, if you know nothing about golf or the Ryder Cup, here is a quick explainer. Basically, it is biannual exhibition event between the two powerhouses of world golf (Europe and USA). It has formed into one of world sports most unique events where highly selfish, self centred, and inward focused sportsmen (golfers) are put into a collective team environment. Every edition seems to get bigger and more captivating.

But, it wasn't always like this. Back in the 50s, 60s and 70s it was a sideshow where the Americans had all the swagger. They were the stars with all the gear and privilege. Back then it was played against Great Britain & Ireland. The Brits were in awe of their foes and lost more often than not. Continental Europe was invited to join GB in 1979, but culturally it was a negative, pessimistic, and poorly resourced team. The losing continued where the US domination became a procession. 

That's when Tony Jacklin was brought in as captain and given the keys to do it his way - a losing player for many years and then shunned altogether previously. Jacklin professionalised the organisation of the team, enrolled lieutenants like Seve Ballisteros and Bernard Langer, and even had tailored uniforms made for the first time. They still lost, but got close. Then, in 1985 they won at home. And, in 1987 they did something never done before - they won away on US soil. To paraphrase Jacklin, he had turned a team with flimsy bravado into one of deep confidence.  

In the lead up Luke Donald's first captaincy in Rome two years ago, he went to work. He inherited 'the template' Europe has strategically created over many years. This is used by every captain where the job is to evolve and adapt it. He studied and researched leadership, but there was one call he made which influenced him the most - he called Jacklin.

"Luke was the first captain to give me a call..."

A startling declaration from Jacklin, a four time Ryder Cup Captain and the man who turned perennial losers into a cultural force for decades to come. This call would plant the seeds of Donald's legacy as a leader.

Followership - Leadership Made Easy

Whenever we are in a professional role we can find ourselves in a position where the things being asked of us are not things we agree with or like doing. For leaders, this is often an uncomfortable and stressful position.

Donald, was faced with hundreds of small decisions and would have been hit with many more opinions and competing forces. So, he did one of the cleverest things possible - he followed.

In Rome, he followed the template and he called every past captain (including Jacklin.) Ironically, he knew this was the best way to make his mark. By taking all the learnings, mistakes, advice, principles, and strategies he put himself into a powerful position to decide on how to apply it all for the challenges of Rome, and New York.

If in doubt, do what your predecessors have done. Or, more likely, do what your senior leadership want you to do. Be assured, in the application of their ideas, you always have plenty of room for your own personal touch and flare.

Why We Don't Follow 

Marketeers have a few well proven tactics to get you to buy their stuff. Whack a celebrity face next to it (endorsement to raise trust), give more information (features and benefits to raise trust), or label something as New (provide excitement for a dopamine hit). It is this last one which is most powerful. Our strong Recency, Novelty, Curiosity, Optimism bias' all fuel our need to be different, unique, and exciting.

As a leader this means we often burn a lot of energy, time, and opportunity trying to do things our own way.

It is important to acknowledge we often are asked to do things we don't want to do, do not like doing, or do not feel we are good at. So, we 'do it our way'. We resist and create tension, risk, and conflict which in end helps no one.

Instead, understand the reality that the work is more important than our own feelings (humility). Know, the tough or unattractive stuff needs to be done no matter what (tenacity). And, if we are not competent then the job is to go learn how do it and then do it (audacity). The alternative is no good for you, your people, or your business - end of.

Why Followers Make Great Leaders

A follower is able to use what has already been created for them, as Donald has done for the European Ryder Cup Team. A follower is able to accelerate their own performance and that of their people because of the efficiencies this provides. When following, we remove unnecessary tension and open the communication lines for curiosity, collaboration, and evolution.

Luke Donald's ability to do this has taken a good template and made it an unstoppable one. He has now led to back-to-back wins as a captain, presided over a historic win on US soil, and become a leader of legacy. He has made his mark and put his opponent into a position where it is difficult to see them winning the cup back at all!

To put this into context, the last time the Ryder Cup was played in the US, the Europeans were defeated by a record margin with all pundits saying this would be the golden generation of US golf. Donald dismantled this assertion.

It is a masterclass in Return On Effort. Luke Donald is a picture of service to his team and employer. His players love him and asked for him to continue as their leader. He put tremendous effort into his communication, research, and detailed decision making. The result was devastating. Not bad for a golfer with zero leadership experience.

It gives all of us an indication of the power of followership for first time leaders, leaders coming into a new role/business/industry, and for leaders at the top facing new challenges. It is common for followership to be misunderstood and skipped over. But, it may be the cleverest, easiest, and most logical leadership move we can make.