Historical Conceptions of Leadership

1. Historical Conceptions of Leadership

2. Outline • Overview of Historical Views Readings • Carlyle • Tolstoy • Plato • Aristotle • Machiavelli • Lao-Tzu • Gandhi • Du Bois • Continua exercise • Assignment 2

3. Carlyle • The leader, ‘King’, is everything • Once selected, the ‘Able-man’ should rule • Individuals must be subordinated to him • Leader should pursue policies in his infinite wisdom

4. Tolstoy • Great events in history are not the direct result of ‘Great Men’ • Historical events are determined by infinite number of discrete actions by individuals • Although leaders are most visible, their actions are dependent on others’ actions • A King is History’s Slave: To explain events in terms of great men is merely a convenience

5. Plato • Democracy is not an ideal state: • Democracy yields freedom, which leads to license and anarchy. • Trying to restore order, a tyrant is born • Solution: • Select & train philosophers who will be ideal leaders • Followers must defer to these leaders

6. Aristotle • Leaders do not represent a superior class • Leaders should be those who have attained sufficient age and wisdom • Leaders should mentor young people to take over when they get older • Goal of leaders should be to attain the ‘perfect life’ for their society

7. Machiavelli • A ‘Prince’ should appear to have the qualities of mercy, good faith, integrity, and religion. • However, a leader should be willing to act to the contrary • Criterion of success is maintaining authority • Leaders must focus on results • Leaders should deceive followers if needed to meet desired goals

8. “The wicked leader is he who people despise. The good leader is he who people revere. The great leader is he who the people say we did it ourselves” • Lao Tzu

9. Lao Tzu • A leader should be selfless and should serve her/his followers • Leader should be supportive, act as mediator, and facilitate the group’s efforts • Midwife metaphor: • Helps the mother but acknowledges mother should get credit for giving birth

10. Gandhi

11. Gandhi • Satyagraha: Truth-force • Proper approach to social change was non-violent, passive resistance • Traditional leaders unimportant- could only lead if masses permitted it • Satyagrahi: a leader who must mobilize public opinion against the evil • Passive resistance demands considerable courage

12. Du Bois • Addressed the majority White population attempting to bring respect/equality to Blacks. • Leaders would inevitably arise in Black population • It behooves all to train/educate these leaders • Whites must support Black colleges and respected elders who train the leaders

13. Leadership Continua • Your task: • Label both the continuum and the end-points

14. Carlyle and Tolstoy Continuum label here Tolstoy Carlyle Endpoint here Endpoint here

15. Carlyle and Tolstoy Importance of Leader Tolstoy Carlyle Leader as key figure Leader as pawn of history

16. Develop continua for: • Plato and Aristotle • Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu • Gandhi and Du Bois

17. Plato and Aristotle Source of Leadership Aristotle Plato Elite cadre Drawn from masses

18. Plato and Aristotle Relationship with Followers Aristotle Plato Hierarchical Mentor/mentee

19. Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu Leadership “Style” Lao-Tzu Machiavelli Leader as forceful Leader as enabler

20. Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu Leadership Focus Lao-Tzu Machiavelli Leader’s objectives Follower’s objectives

21. Gandhi and Du Bois Source of Leadership Du Bois Gandhi Individual commitment Elite cadre