Evolution of Management Thought about Leadership

LEADERSHIP
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Leadership
Leadership is much more complicated, simple, bullet-point lists of 'good qualities. The lists are cliched in that they list the bare minimum of what is expected of a leader in discerning the need for and implementing change. In this generation of constant cultural change, business leaders have increased visibility, consequently creating a modern theatre. With highly publicized corporations, a new cast of management celebrities has emerged. The media has succeeded in dramatizing leadership, where the 'heroic' leaders appear as the central figure to a company's success. This dynamic genius guides less far-sighted colleagues towards a destination known only to them. This essay is a discussion of opinions by some of the best writers regarding the topic of leadership. Consequently, the analysis answers the question as to whether the proper steps are being taken to navigate this era of rapid change.
Today's leadership is characterized by a style in which leaders appear as supermen or superwomen. Numerous findings show that individuals are drawn towards people that possess stereotypic characteristics of heroes (Allison, 2015). However, leadership is more complicated than heavy-handed actions at the top (Ahn, et al., 2004). The CEO's popularity has increased just as rapidly as inflated market valuations due to the dot.com era spending. Consequently, the reputation of such 'heroic 'leaders has been called into question. The increased exposure to leadership has shown the existence of dubious ethical standards and corporate misconduct. The paradox is that while individuals' relative value is in question, there has never been a more urgent demand for effective leadership in this era. Ethically, it can be argued that Robert Greenleaf's servant leadership theory presents the best way for a leader to pay attention to the needs of the followers to get the best results. This theory vigorously cites Jesus as the prime example of a servant leader. A humble servant that is disinterested in personal accolades and instead focused on the wellbeing of the followers. The leader is characterized by listening, empathy, conceptualizing and persuasion awareness, foresight, and stewardship (Burkus, 2010). However, others argue that a leader can be focused on the needs of the followers such that the needs of an organization suffer as a result.
For effective leadership, there needs to be a balance between the two styles of leadership. This scenario is best represented by the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Upon his death on December 5, 2013, he was revered for his heroic leadership. To the world, Mandela was an icon and a leadership celebrity; however, he showed immense devotion and sacrificed towards the people of South Africa in his life. Barack Obama's tribute read, "he no longer belongs to us; he belongs to the ages (Goethals, 2014)." This is to say, even when transformational leaders perish, rhetoric is constructed that ensures their legacies transcend the short period they got to live.
Current trends in business and technology show that policies will keep increasing and changing as society becomes diverse. This provides more is...