Table 3 Themes on beliefs about... | Emerald Publishing

Table 3

Themes on beliefs about followership

Themes for beliefs about ideal followership
No.	Code category	Definition	Excerpts from raw data
Self-focussed beliefs
1	Proactive and takes initiative	Contribute knowledge/inputs to solve problems. Innovate. Raise concerns, suggestions and differing views. Guide the leader if necessary	must have the openness and the courage to come to the leader if they have suggestions or problems, or situations that they are not sure about (GF); always waiting to be told what to do (BF)
2	Principled and has integrity	Discern what and who you follow (follow what you think is good). Be ethical, honest and trustworthy	does not follow blindly (GF); thinks about what she or he is following (GF); being a sheep – just doing it because you are being instructed and everybody else is doing it (BF)
3	Will and ability to learn	Learn from leader and others. Not afraid to make mistakes, they're an opportunity to learn	you don't know everything, give yourself room to learn (GF); willing to learn and make mistakes (GF)
Self- and organisation-focussed beliefs
4	Professional conduct	Do your work as required and be productive regardless of individuals occupying the leadership position. Do not be swayed by politics, individuals or other external factors. Do not take things personally. Follower is your role in a particular context	objectivity is important because, here in the City, this is a political office and then different political parties are involved, so a good follower should also consider those kinds of environments that the leader might be a member of the opposition party. (GF); followers don't make don't make distinction between politics and administration (BF)
Organisation-focussed beliefs
5	Responsible and accountable	Admit to mistakes. Be responsible and accountable for work	doesn't take things seriously (BF); accountable (for) their work (GF)
6	Purpose and dedication	Passionate, inspired, dedicated and committed. Apply effort. Following as a choice, not just based on hierarchy	someone who is always there for the organisational needs (GF); Contributing nothing and they're just there to collect a salary (BF)
Leader- and organisation-focussed beliefs
7	Engaged and supportive	Understand organisational environment and objectives (organisational and specific job). Complement and support leader in achieving objectives	complement the leader (GF); have a good understanding of what the objectives are or what needs to be achieved (GF); not delivering as required because they think they know more than the leader (BF)
Leader-focussed beliefs
8	Respectful deference	Comply with lawful orders, policies, organisational structure. Observe rank and be respectful. Raise issues if asked or wait for appropriate time	someone who adheres to the policy of the organisation (GF); if you're not willing to take orders that are required for you as you signed your duties and responsibilities (BF)
9	Positive attitude	Collaborative, team player. Have traits associated with being “nice” or “friendly”. Being easy to work with	it's very important to be a team player (GF); a good follower is friendly (GF); people with low morale (BF)
10	An outcome of good leadership	Good followership emerges as a response to leaders who value followers (and their input) and allow open relationships, not dictator leaders	Depending on what the leader gives out to his followers; chances are you will reciprocate. What you give is what you get … if you get a very good leader then people are willing and they put in the extra effort and they go the extra mile. Whereas if you get a leader who is more like a dictator kind of a leader, you get a lot of resistance from those followers (GF/BF); a dictator leader will get resistance and slacking from followers (BF)

Themes for beliefs about ideal followership
No.	Code category	Definition	Excerpts from raw data
Self-focussed beliefs
1	Proactive and takes initiative	Contribute knowledge/inputs to solve problems. Innovate. Raise concerns, suggestions and differing views. Guide the leader if necessary	must have the openness and the courage to come to the leader if they have suggestions or problems, or situations that they are not sure about (GF); always waiting to be told what to do (BF)
2	Principled and has integrity	Discern what and who you follow (follow what you think is good). Be ethical, honest and trustworthy	does not follow blindly (GF); thinks about what she or he is following (GF); being a sheep – just doing it because you are being instructed and everybody else is doing it (BF)
3	Will and ability to learn	Learn from leader and others. Not afraid to make mistakes, they're an opportunity to learn	you don't know everything, give yourself room to learn (GF); willing to learn and make mistakes (GF)
Self- and organisation-focussed beliefs
4	Professional conduct	Do your work as required and be productive regardless of individuals occupying the leadership position. Do not be swayed by politics, individuals or other external factors. Do not take things personally. Follower is your role in a particular context	objectivity is important because, here in the City, this is a political office and then different political parties are involved, so a good follower should also consider those kinds of environments that the leader might be a member of the opposition party. (GF); followers don't make don't make distinction between politics and administration (BF)
Organisation-focussed beliefs
5	Responsible and accountable	Admit to mistakes. Be responsible and accountable for work	doesn't take things seriously (BF); accountable (for) their work (GF)
6	Purpose and dedication	Passionate, inspired, dedicated and committed. Apply effort. Following as a choice, not just based on hierarchy	someone who is always there for the organisational needs (GF); Contributing nothing and they're just there to collect a salary (BF)
Leader- and organisation-focussed beliefs
7	Engaged and supportive	Understand organisational environment and objectives (organisational and specific job). Complement and support leader in achieving objectives	complement the leader (GF); have a good understanding of what the objectives are or what needs to be achieved (GF); not delivering as required because they think they know more than the leader (BF)
Leader-focussed beliefs
8	Respectful deference	Comply with lawful orders, policies, organisational structure. Observe rank and be respectful. Raise issues if asked or wait for appropriate time	someone who adheres to the policy of the organisation (GF); if you're not willing to take orders that are required for you as you signed your duties and responsibilities (BF)
9	Positive attitude	Collaborative, team player. Have traits associated with being “nice” or “friendly”. Being easy to work with	it's very important to be a team player (GF); a good follower is friendly (GF); people with low morale (BF)
10	An outcome of good leadership	Good followership emerges as a response to leaders who value followers (and their input) and allow open relationships, not dictator leaders	Depending on what the leader gives out to his followers; chances are you will reciprocate. What you give is what you get … if you get a very good leader then people are willing and they put in the extra effort and they go the extra mile. Whereas if you get a leader who is more like a dictator kind of a leader, you get a lot of resistance from those followers (GF/BF); a dictator leader will get resistance and slacking from followers (BF)

Note(s): *GF = descriptions of a good follower; BF = descriptions of a bad follower