Linking leadership and followership styles

Purpose This study proposes a theoretical model linking leadership and followership styles. Design/methodology/approach A new instrument was developed and tested on 271 respondents from Armenia, Denmark, Germany, and the USA. Factor analysis identified three leadership styles (autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire) and three followership styles (compliant, collaborating, initiating). Findings The results showed that autocratic leadership was positively associated with compliant followership, and democratic leadership was positively associated with collaborating followership. No correlation was found between laissez-faire leadership and initiating followership. However, collaborative followership was positively associated with all three leadership styles. Originality/value This study contributes a new theoretical model and a novel instrument for measuring the interplay between leadership and followership styles, offering fresh insights into leadership dynamics.