Leadership — based in natural power, courage and control, its a quality most people respect and many desire to possess. After all, who wouldn’t want to command a room as soon as they walked into it? We all want others to listen to us, to treat us with respect and to recognize our authority. But the world doesn’t just need leaders. It also needs followers — people who take direction well and comply with the rules; people who manifest others’ visions by carrying their ideas through to the finish. When it comes to getting great things accomplished, people rarely do it on their own. Instead, they join together in teams of leaders and followers — visionaries and those who bring those visions into reality. Thus, both leaders and followers are essential to progress. Are you a leader or a follower?
ARIES
The first sign of the Zodiac, Aries is a born leader. Confident, headstrong and energetic, you know what you want, you demand that you get it, and you won’t take no for an answer. You’re a natural at commanding others’ attention and respect. You don’t mind competition; in fact, you enjoy going head to head to prove your mettle. Your boldness speaks for itself, and you’re comfortable being the boss. In your work, you need plenty of autonomy; you chafe under the restriction of being micromanaged by someone else, and may operate best when working on your own. Possessing strong interpersonal skills is important for you, since follow-through isn’t your forte. You tend to start lots of projects, but you don’t actually finish many of them on your own. That’s where a good, supportive team of friends or colleagues comes in: They can take your bold ideas and run with them.
TAURUS
When it comes to leading and following, Taurus could go either way, but in many ways, you’re more naturally a leader. With your innate, grounded creativity, you can tweak someone else’s high-flying ideas and create them in the real world. You tend to be careful and thorough in all you undertake, and you have excellent determination and endurance — important qualities when it comes to seeing a project through to completion. On the other hand, you can also thrive as a team player although you are stubborn at your core and don’t like to be pushed; you’ll dig your heels in if someone tries to pressure you to do something you don’t want to do or that you don’t think is right. On that note, you also possess a strong moral sense that steers your behavior and decisions, often setting an example for others. In these ways, you’re a leader in your own right.
GEMINI
On the surface of things, Gemini, you’re more naturally a follower. As one of the most flexible signs of the Zodiac, you tend to deal better than most with change, and you’re often of two minds on many issues. You can see both sides of an argument, and when it comes to problem-solving, you tend to have more than one viable idea in mind. For all of these reasons, you make an excellent supporting member of a team. You can keep your friends or coworkers laughing and communicating as you offer up ideas and show everyone how to switch directions when needed. But many of these qualities can also be instrumental in a leadership position. The truth is, you may not fit easily into either the “leader” or “follower” category. Instead, you might be more of a synthesizer — someone who takes several different ideas or approaches and combines them into something altogether new and unique.
CANCER
Cancer makes a natural leader, albeit a quiet, gentle one. You’re at your best when you have plenty of support from your loved ones; however, you also tend to operate on your own, rarely inviting others into your inner world until they’ve proven themselves time and again. While autonomy isn’t leadership, in itself, it is a quality that goes hand in hand with leadership. As some say, it can be pretty lonely at the top; while you may not enjoy that loneliness, you understand it and know how to manage it. You’re good at getting projects off the ground as well as motivating others; you set an example with your strong sense of right and wrong. Furthermore, at home, you’re the head and heart of your family — the person who sets the emotional tone for the whole group.
LEO
With your vibrant charisma, Leo, you’re a born leader. In any situation, from work to play, you know just what you want. Furthermore, you have a great sense of how to make it happen — with a little help from your friends, family or colleagues, who are only too happy to do your bidding. You adore being in charge; you might even see the world as a stage and life as a play, with yourself as director as well as in the starring role. You’re instinctively adept at convincing others to cooperate with you. You might even use your charm to persuade others to handle tasks you’d rather not perform yourself. Hey, nothing wrong with that — your personal presence is just that compelling! With your inner strength, determination and follow-through, you can also make a good team member, but you’re more comfortable in a position of authority.
VIRGO
Virgo is the Sign of Service, which says it all. A natural follower, you’re compassionate and considerate; you take direction well, and you feel most fulfilled when working selflessly for someone you love or respect. Instilled with a strong sense of duty, you don’t shy away from hard work, especially not when it’s something you believe in. Your frugal nature and practical perspective make it easy for you to bring others’ grandiose ideas down to earth, where you can modify them into something feasible in the real world. Your tendency to be hard on yourself — harder than anyone else — makes you an excellent employee or team member, since you hold yourself to such high standards. Trustworthy and diligent, you always strive to do your best. You’re an asset to any group or team of which you’re a part.
LIBRA
In many ways, Libra makes a natural leader. You know how to use your charm and style to draw people to your side, and you’re filled with creative ideas, not to mention the energy needed to get them off the ground. Furthermore, you have a strong sense of right and wrong. Your kindness and commitment to justice make you an excellent manager of a team of people — but, of course, managing and leading are two different things. You can also be quite indecisive — a side effect of your desire to accommodate everyone, which any leader should know is impossible. The truth is, you tend to work best in a partnership. You enjoy bouncing ideas off your partner, and when it’s time to play a round of “good cop, bad cop,” you can rely on the other person to fill the tough role while you play the softie.
SCORPIO
Scorpio’s love of being in control makes you an excellent leader. You always know what you want, and you generally have a plan — often a secret one — for how to make it happen. You work well on your own, and you enjoy seeing others do your bidding. You can have a hard time working under someone else’s leadership, so as an employee, you do best in a position with plenty of authority and autonomy. On the other hand, your excellent stamina and endurance translate to an ability to follow through with a plan or scheme; in this way, you make a strong supporter to someone else’s ideas and leadership. Here’s an interesting fact to note: Your sign is tied with Aquarius as the two most common Zodiac signs of United States presidents (throughout U.S. history, there have been five Scorpios and five Aquarians serving as heads of state — more than any other sign).
SAGITTARIUS
Leader, follower — oh, who cares? Sagittarius is such a free spirit that you might just throw off labels altogether or at the very least, turn them on their heads. You’d rather be out mingling with the people. You don’t want to be in charge, but you also don’t want to be restricted by others. You tend to ignore power hierarchies — those false structures of who’s on top and who’s beneath that other people get so worked up about wedging themselves into. You’re somewhat unique in seeing everyone as your equal. Furthermore, you’re quite skilled at adapting quickly to change. You accept transitions and new conditions more smoothly than most; in fact, you set an example for others in this way. This makes you an excellent member of any team, as you can show your friends or colleagues how to embrace the beauty of life’s many variations.
CAPRICORN
Serious, pragmatic Capricorn may not make the most charismatic leader around, but you’ve definitely got what it takes to head up a team. In many ways, you’re like a seasoned military commander: Others follow your lead because they respect your hard work and experience, your strong sense of ethics, and your commitment to the cause. This is true at home as well as work; you’re the head of your family, even if your career or other commitments claim the bulk of your time. On that note, you don’t mind putting in your dues on your way to the top; in this way, you also make an excellent follower. You heed rules and directions well, especially when serving as apprentice to a respected mentor or master. You always strive to do your best, which is how you work your way up through the ranks of your career, making steady upward progress. Your goal? Nothing less than the top, whatever that might be — owner, full partner or CEO.
AQUARIUS
Aquarius marches to the beat of your own drummer. While you’re a natural people-person, you also enjoy flying solo, as you need freedom to explore your many creative, innovative ideas. These qualities make you a strong leader, if a somewhat quirky one: You know what you want; you have good ideas for how to make it happen; you enjoy rallying others to join a cause you believe in; and you definitely don’t want anyone to hold you back from manifesting your vision. Your unusual methods can be quite appealing to those who enjoy being near your personal brand of creative genius. While you make an excellent leader, you can also make a fine follower, utilizing your strong stamina and endurance to join with others, complete projects and achieve goals. Interestingly, Aquarius is tied with Scorpio as the two most common Zodiac signs of United States presidents (throughout U.S. history, there have been five Scorpios and five Aquarians serving as heads of state — more than any other sign).
PISCES
Pisces lacks many of the qualities of a good leader — in a wonderful way. Not being naturally competitive, you rarely feel the need to prove yourself to others. You aren’t concerned with power positions or hierarchies. You’re far more interested in supporting others as they chase down their dreams than you are in pushing your own agenda. Your go-with-the-flow perspective enables you to adapt well to change, which makes you an essential team member in times of transition or crisis. You can even serve as an emotional and spiritual beacon to others who are feeling hurt, lost or overwhelmed. On the other hand, you may not make the best follower, either — you’re a bit too adept at straying from the beaten path! No matter how sincerely you might want to follow directions, it’s all too easy for you to get distracted and wander off course. You operate best when you can rely on someone strong and trustworthy for partnership or guidance.
