The majority of people don’t like to lead. It’s simply easier and more comfortable to follow. Less conflict. Less confrontation. Less stress.

Leading requires initiative, the capacity to be confrontational, to step outside the box. It’s rather opposite of what is known as the bandwagon effect. Most people cannot do any of that without feeling extremely self conscious or anxious. Or, without being obnoxious and off-putting. You not only have to be able to function separate, you have to do it without annoying the fuck out of those around you.

Effective leadership also requires the capacity for some degree of speed. Some problems cannot wait for debate due to safety.

The bandwagon effect is a fun bit of study. What’s even better is the majority of people believe it doesn’t hold sway over them when the data shows that it absolutely does, something like 70-80%. It’s why, in part, so much money is thrown at AI and bots on social media, especially pre elections.

This appears to be a long but solid definition of it, with some easy bullet points: researchprospect.com/what-is-the-bandwagon-effect…

There’s also a reverse bandwagon effect, for, you know, the cool people.