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I recently heard the expression, "falling up the career ladder." What an apt description for the sequence of events precipitated by someone in a leadership role retiring or leaving the organization - when you find yourself spontaneously promoted.

These events might cause you to feel unprepared for the imminent challenges of leading an organization forward. Rather than getting overwhelmed and losing confidence, you must begin by identifying the characteristics of successful leadership. What makes a good leader, and what skills and qualities can you acquire now that will allow you to make the transition more easily?

Realize that an effective leader must have committed followers, who enable leaders to use their skills and talents to further the mission of the organization. You are probably someone's follower right now, and becoming an effective follower is the first step towards becoming an effective leader. Before worrying about becoming an effective leader, what can you do to be an influential and effective follower? Below we will address some of these issues, and provide practical tips on successfully falling up the career ladder.

On being a follower

• Be confident! If you have a great idea, share it. Leaders value employees who think of more efficient or effective ways of doing thing. Followers move the organization forward, and smart leaders will value your input and commitment to furthering the library's mission.

• Take the initiative! Don't stop with the idea; develop a plan of attack and align your resources so that you are able to take on challenges. A common concern among leaders is that their employees just identify problems rather than creating solutions. So, don't just complain - do something!

• Follow through with your projects! Be conscientious about the accuracy of your work, adhere to deadlines, and keep organized. A superb work ethic motivates others. Leaders will take notice and entrust the important projects to the person that shows the ability to follow through.

• Be influential! An effective follower recognizes and appreciates their place within an organization. Knowing your place allows you to realize the influence that you can have, both with your leader and your fellow colleagues. Leaders are often disconnected from their employees, but need to keep a finger on the pulse of the organization in order for it to flourish. Leaders need people that can successfully liaison between them and the masses.

• Keep your mouth shut! Always maintain the confidence of those around you. If someone shares information with you, don't gossip. Loyal, trustworthy, and supportive followers inevitably gain confidence and respect. These characteristics greatly affect one's ability to influence the organization, even without being in a position of designated leadership.

• It is OK to challenge! If you feel the leader isn't making the right decision, be courageous enough to let them know. When supportive followers challenge leaders to be accountable for their actions, it will help them grow and see you as an integral player in the success of the organization.

On being a leader

• Set yourself apart as a leader! Most people will always be followers in some capacity - unless your secret desire for world domination comes true. Even if you follow someone, you still can lead others.

• Always be professional! This is the golden rule: treat everyone with the level of professionalism that you would like in return. If you maintain professionalism, you can have confidence that you are doing what is right.

• Be there! Remember the importance of line-of-sight-management. If you are in the line of sight of your supervisor, they will give you important projects to work on. I have found this to be true in my own management style. When I walk out of my office with a project, I look around, and the first staff member I see will probably get it.

• Lead by example! If you expect others to do something, show you are willing to do it yourself. I once spent a summer helping students shift a collection. They worked hard because they saw me working hard, and they were willing to get dirty because they knew I wasn't afraid to do so.

• Network! Get to know other professionals outside your library. Join local or national associations and be active. Don't be afraid to get out there and do something. Publish an article, give a poster presentation, or be a committee member. Take part, and someone will notice.

• Don't be afraid of failure! Last year I ran for an office in the New Members Roundtable of ALA. I lost. This year, a nomination for a different position came my way. Instead of thinking that, since I lost before, I would lose again, I accepted the nomination and gave it another go. This year I was elected. It is fine not to succeed at everything, but not to accept defeat.

• Follow up! Both follow up and follow through. When your supervisor gives you a project, get it done. If you meet someone at a conference and make a connection with them, e-mail them when you get back to your office. Check back with your followers; evaluate the situation from their point of view. Make changes when they need to be made. Leaders need to be partners to their followers - no one can lead, if no one follows.

Don't fall off the ladder

The transition from follower to leader can be an unsteady route if you are not prepared. Realizing your potential as a follower will provide you with the skills and qualities to be a successful leader. If you are a good follower, when it is your turn to fall up the career ladder, you will be more equipped to fall successfully.

Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen is the Undergraduate Information Services Librarian at Florida State University. She was previously the Coordinator for Assessment and Staff Development at FSU. She graduated from Louisiana State University with her MLIS in 2003. She coauthored "Following to the Top and Leading from the Bottom" with Suzanne Byke for the ALIA New Librarian Symposium in Sydney, Australia 2006, has had poster sessions with ACRL and ARL, and studies Leadership and Assessment.

Suzanne Byke is the Undergraduate Programs Librarian at Florida State University. Upon graduating in the summer of 2005 from the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma, Suzanne obtained a position as a Reference and Instruction Librarian at FSU. Together with Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen, Suzanne is building an innovative and dynamic department with services and programs targeting the burgeoning undergraduate population of Florida State University.