b'SPRING 2024EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE "Want to be a leader? Start with being a First Follower! By Richard J. Hamilton, MD, MBA, FACEP As Department Chair, I am currently in annual faculty evaluation mode. My goal is to meet with each of my faculty members, review their career progress, help them navigate a path forward, and identify the support and structure they will need to be successful. In these many conversations, the desire to be in a leadership role is often part of the discussion. Indeed, from an early age, being a leader is set forth Richard J. Hamilton, MD, MBA, FACEP as a sort of icon of accomplishmentleading your team in the ED, being the leader PACEP President 20232024 of a resuscitation, leading the discussion at a conference. However, moving into a leadership role does not always easily follow from these basic leadership skills that we demonstrate regularly in our clinical roles.The emphasis on leadership development often misses a key first stepbecoming a better follower. Its no surprise because we are often not given examples of how to contribute as followers. Importantly, we dont appreciate the power of being the first follower and how that role, in and of itself, represents aleadership opportunity.The "first follower" effect refers to the influence of the behavior of the first follower The role of the firstin a group on establishing the group norm. It was termed coined by Derek Sivers in 2010 after observing how influential the first person to follow the leader was on follower is to absorb thethe actions of the next followers and the group. The actions of the first follower, direction provided by therelative to the leader, play a crucial role in shaping how other group members behave. Specifically, if the first follower aligns with the leader\'s choice or opinion, leader and provide a formit sets a precedent for conformity within the group. Conversely, if the first follower of secondary leadershipdiverges from the leader, it signals to others that non-conformity is acceptable.by adapting the directionIts important to note that the first follower does not just blindly follow the for other followers. leader. The role of the first follower is to absorb the direction provided by the leader and provide a form of secondary leadership by adapting the direction for other followers.continue reading on page 3'