The Ultimate Team's Work Method: 'From Leadership to Followership'

In these times when "leadership" is constantly emphasized, do you ever find yourself consciously thinking about "teamwork" in your daily work?

Nice to meet you. I'm Honda from the Sales Department at Dentsu Inc. Kansai Branch.

Recently, as an advertising agency salesperson, I've had many opportunities to think about "team." For those moments, I chose a book I find particularly valuable. It's a slightly older book: "From Leadership to Followership" (CCC Media House) by Ryuji Nakadake, former coach of Waseda University's Rugby Football Club.

Don't dismiss it as just another book about sports club grit. The author, who studied at the University of Leicester after graduating from Waseda and worked at a major think tank, writes in a way that really hits home for us working professionals. It's packed with concrete examples and golden nuggets of wisdom.

I first learned of Mr. Nakadake in 2007, on the TV program "Jounetsu Tairiku."

At the time, he had just taken over as head coach of the prestigious rugby team from the overwhelmingly charismatic former coach, Katsuyuki Kiyomiya. Nakadake, then 33 years old, was struggling to build a new team. (What a coincidence—he was almost the same age as I am now...!)

Through his unique team management approach centered on "followership," he achieved consecutive victories in the University Championship in 2007 and 2008. How did this author, who self-describes as "the coach with the least charisma in Japan," accomplish such a feat?

Leadership or Followership?

First, I want to make it clear that, as the author states in this book, followership is not simply the opposite of leadership. It's pointless to argue which is right. The fundamental premise is that the approach changes depending on the team.

Indeed, the author's predecessor, Coach Kiyomiya, reportedly built a top-down team structure through overwhelming charisma and powerful leadership, achieving success after success.

While this book discusses both leadership and followership, here I want to focus on the team theory centered around the followership the author practiced.

The ideal is a state where leaders are no longer needed

Everyone shares the leader's mindset. They don't wait to be told or instructed. While the leader ultimately makes the decisions, followers constantly think proactively, just like the leader. (P.105)

Ultimately, the final form of a team built through followership is one where followers become self-reliant, each surpassing the leader, and eventually, the leader is no longer needed.

Certainly, a team led by a charismatic leader might collapse immediately if that leader were to suddenly disappear tomorrow. On the other hand, if all team members understand each other's roles and styles and support one another through followership, it seems possible to build a robust team that can forge ahead without faltering even if someone leaves (even if that someone is the leader).

But reading this far, doesn't it sound a bit like pie-in-the-sky idealism, a distant dream?

Rest assured. This book details exactly how such a team can be achieved.

Don't meet expectations. Don't expect from others.

The author argues that the most crucial element in building an ideal team is for every leader and follower to establish their own distinct "style" and for everyone to share that understanding. To achieve this, the following five specific styles were practiced:

① The Coach with the Least Charisma in Japan
② Not meeting expectations
③ Not expecting anything from others
④ Apologizing over getting angry
⑤ Prioritizing the establishment of players' styles

For details, I encourage you to pick up this book. In particular, the elaboration on point ③—"Doesn't expect much from others"—which might sound negative at first glance, resonated deeply with me as someone whose livelihood depends on communication.

We live amidst a constant series of communication misunderstandings, sometimes receiving unexpected joy from others, other times facing attitudes that feel like betrayal.
In essence, not expecting anything from others ultimately means not expecting anything from myself. Since I'm not perfect to begin with, I maintain a constant "Well, I'm only human" stance. I don't mean to belittle myself, nor am I being pessimistic. I understand my own abilities and limitations better than anyone, so this stance feels remarkably comfortable. (P.54)

Indeed, in several teams where I serve as a leader in sales, I feel a positive cycle has emerged within the team. Since I became able to openly admit my limitations and sincerely ask for help, the pressure has lifted significantly. This has sparked a renewed drive to work even harder for the team members who support me—a vitality rooted in followership.

The essence is one thing: "Think from the other person's perspective."

Beyond this, the book introduces various practical methods of followership through descriptions of specific situations the author has faced while working directly with athletes, such as individual meetings and team talks. Whether you're a leader or a follower, if you work in a team to any degree, I highly recommend reading this while picturing your own team. I'm sure you'll find many insights.

I myself had many discoveries while reading it, but upon revisiting it after some time, what struck me most strongly was that ultimately, the essence boils down to one thing.

It's something we've all been told since childhood by our parents and teachers – a fundamental truth.

When facing team members, when facing clients, and above all, when we in the advertising industry consider communication design, I believe the core principle is always "putting yourself in the other person's shoes."

When everyone truly internalizes this, we might just become the ultimate team, overflowing with followership.

...Now that I've safely finished this draft, I'd like to go apologize to that client who might be thinking, "Talking big like that, but what about that thing I asked for last week!?" before this piece gets published. I'll do my best in the spirit of followership, so please continue to support me!!