Is That a Question? Inviting Followers to Lead

In the evolving and high paced contemporary work place, formal leaders simply do not have the knowledge, skills or abilities to direct others at all times. As a result, followers who possess these resources may be required to actively engage in the leadership process. However, there are numerous social, psychological and conversational constraints that may inhibit followers from doing so. As a result, it may fall to leaders to encourage a follower’s active influence; encouragement that may stem from how a leader changes the way that followers see themselves in the moment. My dissertation applies an inductive, qualitative approach to explore the process by which leaders invite followers to engage in the leadership process and the conditions under which followers are most likely to respond.