Evolutionary origins of leadership and followership

Evolutionary origins of leadership and followership

Mark Van Vugt

Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2006 vol. 10 (4), 3 pp. 354-371

Key Findings: 
Leadership is a key feature of the human condition – it’s a selected behaviour.
Followership is probably even more so – social cohesion requires it. 
Leadership evolved coincident with communication and culture. It therefore can’t exist without these
Leadership was an action that emerged to solve problems – Followership was the ‘normal’ state of affairs
There wasn’t one leader for every problem, but rather leaders who specialised in problems
The traits we implicitly associate with Leadership are those that served hunter-gatherers the best; and those that we dislike in leaders were counter-productive to hunter gatherer society

Summation of the theory
Leadership and Followership are selected characteristics of human evolution. They play a part in social group cohesion, and are therefore fundamental to the human experience

Conclusions
Followership is the ‘natural’ state of affairs. Leaders emerge as the situation dictates in order to solve specific problems, as best suits their fit within the social group.

Potential practical implications
This article provides some support for the concept of emergent leadership. Look for the team member best suited to solve certain problems and ask them to take a point role in solving issues.
Communication and culture are inextricably linked to Leadership – improve these, and you will improve Leadership
Everyone tends to follow based on the situation – use this to help get people on board and to note when your voice is not required for a task to progress.
The groups needs will always be implicitly met – define these and get ownership, and Leadership and Followership will naturally emerge.