I really don't understand why so many people think there is something bad about the word "follow" or the act of following. It's really all about influence, isn't it? When we exercise leadership we influence others and when we follow we are influenced by others.

Like so many words, it's how we modify them that gives them meaning. Granted following "blindly" is definitely not a good thing, but "learning" is following in an intelligently, inquisitive fashion.

On the day he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy was to deliver a speech which included the quote "leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." It's awful difficult to learn, and therefore lead, without following.

Very, very few, if any, can claim that they are leaders only. In fact, I believe that most of us follow a heck of a lot more than we lead.

To blindly follow is bad. To follow, not so bad.