The leadership literature has long emphasized the transformative potential of self-fulfilling prophecies. However, much of this research is leader-centric, overlooking the critical role of followers' self-conceptions. In this presentation, I will share findings from a series of studies exploring how leaders' implicit followership theories (LIFTs) and self-directed interventions can enhance follower outcomes. Specifically, I will discuss two key pathways: (1) how leaders' positive conceptions of followers foster enactive attainment through constructive leadership behaviors, and (2) how a novel, gamified mobile intervention using attribute conditioning empowers followers to enhance their self-schemas and self-efficacy. This research not only deepens our theoretical understanding of followership development but also introduces scalable, evidence-based strategies to improve organizational effectiveness. By highlighting both leader-driven and self-directed processes, I aim to inspire a shift toward greater recognition and cultivation of followership as a fundamental component of organizational success.
