I was thinking recently about how Nigerians often complain about electing the wrong leaders. We rant, we attack, we share memes but rarely do we reflect on our own role in the outcome.
And here’s the thing: leadership is not just about the person at the top it’s also about the people who follow.
Take the example of a Product Operations Manager (POM) working on a new feature. Imagine this POM is the smartest, most capable person in the company. Brilliant ideas, flawless execution, visionary mindset. Sounds like a guaranteed success, right? Not necessarily. If the team underneath him is disengaged, underperforming, or simply not giving him the signals he needs, the project will almost certainly flop. The best leader in the world cannot carry a weak team.
Now flip the scenario. The POM is average maybe not the sharpest mind in the room but he has an extraordinary team. Every team member knows their role, communicates clearly, anticipates issues, and supports one another. They don’t just execute they preempt, problem-solve, and sometimes even act before direction is given. In this scenario, the project doesn’t just survive it thrives, often so seamlessly that the POM barely has to lift a finger.
The lesson? We obsess over finding “good leaders,” when in reality, what makes success inevitable is a great team. A great follower can amplify a mediocre leader, and a poor follower can sink even the most brilliant one.
So instead of crying for the perfect leader, let’s aim higher but in a way most people ignore: let’s strive to be the ideal team member.
The one who notices what needs to be done before anyone asks, the one who supports, anticipates, and elevates.
Because leaders may come and go, but the power of a disciplined, intelligent, and proactive follower? That’s eternal.