INTHEBLACK February 2025 - Magazine - Page 56
WORK SMART
“You can’t do leadership in an empty room, and that’s
precisely why zombie leadership fails. It doesn’t recognise
the importance of followers and their followership. It writes
them out of the equation.”
PROFESSOR ALEX HASLAM, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
He adds that leadership should focus
on the followers, not the individuals at the top
of the ladder.
“If followers aren’t enthused and engaged
and don’t translate leaders’ aspirations
into some form of action, then there isn’t
any leadership.
“You can’t do leadership in an empty room,
and that’s precisely why zombie leadership
fails. It doesn’t recognise the importance
of followers and their followership. It writes
them out of the equation.”
In zombie leadership, followers lack autonomy.
They are reduced to passive actors who do as
they are told.
“Following orders isn’t what makes
56 INTHEBLACK February 2025
organisations, teams or groups succeed. What
you need is passion, engagement, enthusiasm
and creativity,” Haslam says.
The idea that the solution to any problem
is a strong leader can result in poor
decision-making.
“If you invest all your hope and resources
in trying to find the person who’s going
to be your saviour, then you’re going to be
very disappointed,” Haslam says.
“Critically, too, it can deflect from the real task,
which is about mobilising groups and getting
people engaged with the process of change.
If you give people the impression they can rely
on one person, not only is it wrong, but you’re
also blocking off the path to progress.”
