Abstract
ABSTRACT Academic institutions are characterized by specific dynamics between leaders and followers. Academics prefer work autonomy but expect quality leadership. In this article, we explore how early career researchers (ECRs) constructed followership identities through their expectations of supervisory interventions. We used thematic analysis to analyze 39 interviews. The identified themes of ECR followership identity constructions were as follows: 1) Followers as apprentices: Seeking support in reaching career milestones; 2) Followers as motivated performers: Expecting efficient work organization; and 3) Followers as team members: Calling for a shared vision. We argue that the ECR demand for proactive supervisory interventions and the adoption of active followership identities is necessary to foster full academic autonomy development and to overcome negative aspects of experienced isolation in academic life. Acknowledging hierarchical relationships between leaders and followers in HE has the potential to contribute to enhanced career support for ECRs.
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