History of Leadership

There have been many types of leadership throughout time. After a class on the different types of leadership, I came to realize how much our style of leadership has progressed throughout the years. It was just as fun as it was shocking to compare how the styles of leadership have changed throughout history. One of the very first forms of leadership was Tribal Leadership and this varies so much from our modern style of leadership known as Post-Progressive Leadership. After being a captain of a dance team of 17 girls, it is interesting to think about how running the team would have been different during the tribal times than it is during the modern time period we are in today.

If I were to be a leader of a specific team like my dance team during the Tribal Era, I would probably have to hit the gym 7 days a week and grow about a foot in order to even be considered to be the captain. Next, I would have to intimidate the girls to the point where no one would want even want to talk to me or get in my way.  My term as captain wouldn’t be the year I was assigned, but most likely until I was physically brought down from power like being defeated by another leader on a power trip. I would have to direct the team with different tasks I wanted completed and if they failed to follow directions they would immediately be put to death under my orders. To think of death as punishment for not following directions in modern times is morally unfathomable as well as very illegal. Clearly, I was a captain of a team or group back then I would not have the same positive experience I gained through modern leadership skills.

We see Post-Progressive leadership very often these days. I am very happy I was a leader in this time period because I learned a lot as a person and as a leader through many of these skills needed to be an effective leader. I for one did not use any intimidation to be chosen as a leader. Instead I used the Post-Progressive technique of expressing why I would make a great leader and how I would incorporate everyone’s ideas to make the most effective decisions for the team as a whole. I also never wanted to make anyone feel inferior to me as the leader but I wanted to make sure everyone had equal say in what we did as a team. This is one of the core values of Modern day Post-Progressive leadership. Another value of Post-Progressive leadership is the value of social change. As a team we would volunteer for different organizations to help promote well-being in the community. By doing this, the role of me being the leader turned everyone on the team into a leader as well. With this, we were able to simultaneously collaborate while promoting social change and this is what modern leaders do.

Clearly times have changed when it comes to leadership. I am happy to say I was and still am a part of the Post-Progressive era of leadership and will continue to collaborate with others to create change where it is needed rather than force others into making changes without their consent. 

Definition of Leadership

How Princes Should Keep Faith by Niccolo Machiavelli states "...a prudent Prince neither can or ought to keep his word when to keep it is hurtful to him and the causes which led him to pledge it are removed. If all men were good, this would not be good advise, but since they are dishonest and do not keep faith with you, you, in return, need not keep faith with them; and no prince was ever at a loss for plausible reasons to cloak a breach of faith..." (Machiavelli 68) 

After reading this, I immediately related this idea to modern day leaders such as people in high office in business and political leaders such as Mayors, Governors and Presidents.I believe that anyone, especially striving for this kind of power, will do whatever it takes to reach it even if it means bending the truth a little bit.  When trying to attain a goal, one will almost always distort the truth to make sure that he/she looks good in a certain situation if not all situations he/she is put in. With this false image, these leaders persuade their audience by stating false or far-fetched ideals which in turn leads to a business or country being led by lies and false hopes. No one wants the blind to lead the blind, so it is important that voters have their own views and that the leaders they are voting for should reflect the same ideas as the voters and provide realistic means to reach the common end result. 

I believe Machiavelli makes a strong point in illustrating what NOT to do as person in high power and how the public should not trust everything they are told to trust.  With this being said, it is important that the voters be educated on what they are voting for and who they are voting for. It is the responsibility of the co-workers or general public to understand that although these ideas being preached to them sound great, they must be a leader themselves and take societal responsibility to fully understand what they are being told and to evaluate how realistic these situations seem. By taking action and not just voting for what SOUNDS good, the definition of a leader sets in. By knowing and understanding that no man is truly honest 100% of the time will help the business or society in the long run. This is just an example of how a leader steps up to the plate and makes a small yet meaningful impact on society. Leaders are formed everyday through many different situations. It is clear that a leader must have a mind of their own and must make informed decisions whether it be doing research or just collaborating with others. By reading this excerpt by Machiavelli, it made me realize that it doesn't matter how high of a position someone is in or how convincing their ideas are that makes them a leader, it is the decisions you make in that position and the realistic ideas you express that make you a leader. Clearly, the leaders in many situations are not only the ones running for office, but also the ones voting and supporting the expressed ideas. Everyone's input counts in democratic situations and it is up to a leader to make sure that truthful ideals are carried out.