Dr. Simpson's Global Followership Conference Sessions
2025 Global Followership Conference
Claremont McKenna College - Claremont, California
The Followership Ecosystem: Cultivating Growth Through Active Engagement
In this innovative and experiential session, participants will explore how followership functions as a dynamic ecosystem of interconnected relationships rather than a traditional hierarchy that directly shapes organizational success. Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) methodology, attendees will engage in hands-on building exercises and metaphorical storytelling to visualize real-life scenarios where follower-leader relationships determine outcomes. Through progressive building challenges and shared model creation, participants will uncover how followers actively contribute to culture, decision-making, innovation, and resilience, ultimately influencing leadership effectiveness. By examining the differences and overlaps between follower and leader roles, attendees will learn how valuing and empowering followers strengthens teams and reduces the pitfalls that occur when followership is neglected. The session concludes with actionable strategies for cultivating strong followership cultures that foster sustainable organizational growth and success, directly supporting the conference theme of “Growing Followership.”
The target audience for this session comprises a broad spectrum of professionals, scholars, and practitioners interested in the exploration and application of followership in diverse contexts.
After completing this session, participants will be able to:
- Articulate at least three distinct ways followership differs from leadership using metaphorical LEGO® models.
- Create and explain a visual framework showing how follower behaviors directly impact organizational outcomes.
- Identify potential risks and consequences of undervaluing followers, including undermined leadership and weakened team performance.
- Guide participants in formulating concrete action steps to apply followership insights to their workplace.
2024 Global Followership Conference
University of Strathclyde - Glasgow, Scotland
Building Effective Followership Brick by Brick: Creative Insights with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
In today’s dynamic organizational landscape, followership plays a crucial role in effective leadership and teamwork. This session engages participants in an interactive exploration of followership using the innovative LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method. Recognize that followership isn’t passive compliance but an active, dynamic force shaping organizations and teams. LSP’s multi-sensory approach engages participants mentally and physically, promoting a deep understanding of complex concepts. Collaboratively construct models to depict followership’s various aspects: roles, responsibilities, challenges, and the follower-leader interplay. This interactive approach stimulates critical thinking and active engagement. Emphasis is placed on knowledge sharing and peer learning. By integrating LSP, this session ensures a unique and engaging experience that deepens knowledge and equips participants with practical insights for improved leadership and teamwork. During the session, participants embark on a hands-on journey, creating and deconstructing LEGO® models to represent followership’s dimensions. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about these creations, share insights, and gain fresh perspectives on followership from peers. Come ready to play, create, and gain a renewed understanding of followers’ pivotal role in today’s ever-evolving professional landscape.
The target audience for this session comprises a broad spectrum of professionals, scholars, and practitioners interested in the exploration and application of followership in diverse contexts.
After completing this session, participants will be able to:
- Participants will construct and present LEGO® models to demonstrate enhanced critical thinking skills by analyzing and discussing the interplay between followership and leadership.
- Participants will actively participate in group exercises and discussions, providing insights into the factors influencing the follower-leader relationship.
- Participants will identify how followership behaviors and attitudes can influence leadership effectiveness and reflect on LEGO® creations to generate at least one actionable strategy or idea to improve followership dynamics in the workplace.
