ROBERT KELLY MODEL OF FOLLOWERSHIP
5 categories of followers:
YES PEOPLE
SURVIVOR
ALIENTAED
SHEEP
EFFICIENT
How can we describe followers’ roles? Trying to do just that has been the primary focus of much of the existing followership research. As there are many types of leaders, so, too, are there many types of followers.

Kelley’s typology is currently the most recognized followership typology. He stresses the importance of studying followers in the leadership process and gave impetus to the development of the field of followership. While Zaleznik focused on the personal aspects of followers, Kelley emphasizes the motivations of followers and follower behaviors. In his efforts to give followership equal billing to leadership, Kelley examined those aspects of followers that account for exemplary followership.

Kelley believes followers are enormously valuable to organizations and that the power of followers often goes unrecognized. Kelley sorted followers’ styles on two axes: independent critical thinking–dependent uncritical thinking and active–passive. Rather than framing followership in a negative light, Kelley underscores the positive dimensions of following.