Leader or Follower as a New Employee

Very often I observe new employee, though with high enthusiasm and expectation of a new job, gets rather frustrated for not feeling needed or useful.

Usually, employer does not have a good familiarization or training program, or mentoring or coaching system to help the new recruit.

In those cases where there are such programs, there are many cases of in competent, non-dedicated superior or mentor or coach. As a result the new employee is left wondering around, learning little, doing nothing or just helping out in phostatting some reports for the seniors.

Among these new staff, there are typically two distinct types of behavior: namely a) follower, b) leader.

Majority of the employee population is follower type. They are dependent on a good system and committed superior or senior or colleagues to guide them, give them the learning opportunity, some need spoon-feeding, only then they move on to learn things, gain experience and make contribution and progress on.

Unfortunately, many of these followers do not meet such ideal situation to help them to move along. They will float alone with the easy non-productive work culture. Usually they make compliant, feel frustrated. Over time, they get used to such culture, and become non—productive and not gaining any competency or skills. These are the people who become most venerable during the time of downsizing, out-sourcing or re-engineering as they have no market value and their livelihood is dependent on the employer. They cannot control their own destiny.

There is another type of behavior, which is leader-type. These are the minority.

In spite of the fact that there is no system in his or her personal development, no committed superior or boss to guide, coach or mentor him or her, this person will take initiate to learn thing, with creative mind.

He or she has the policy that every working day MUST be a learning day and productive day. S/he makes daily assessment of time-spent and learning gain. This person has clear idea of his or her goals and career path, which gives direction for him or her to absorb the necessary knowledge and experience.

He or she may read the appropriate books for new ideas or discipline for consistent daily activity to sustain his or her learning appetite, or seek some-one, even outside the employer company to guide or coach him or her.

The leader-type of behavior is very few, as being an employee, he or she can take things for granted that there is paycheck at the end of the month, why worry!

Hence, there are more leaders in businessmen, as they cannot survive if they act like followers, waiting for instructions or spoon-feeding.


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