Implicit followership Theories: Current Research and Future Directions


Speaker


Abstract

What do you think about followers and do such conceptions influence follower outcomes? Our conceptions of followers or Implicit Followership Theories (IFTs) are defined as shared conceptions about the traits and behaviors that characterize followers (Sy, 2010). IFTs are an emerging sub-branch of leadership theory and research. Current research in the field will be presented. Specifically, I will present research on the consequences of prototypic implicit followership theories (IFTs), focusing on how leaders' and followers' IFTs interact to shape relationship quality and follower performance. Moreover, the discussion will focus on ongoing research on IFTs, as well as future research directions.