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Leadership Tip of the Month

December 2005

Copyright 2005 ã weLEAD, Inc.

The Heroic Leader

Lying deep within the cultural history of mankind is the belief in, and a desire for a heroic leader! Our ancient ancestors left a rural society as nomadic hunters and formed city-states around 3500 B.C. Within these small villages a single leader usually emerged to become a ruler. Sometimes for the good of the group, but often for the bad, this leader struggled to maintain power mostly with the intent of making “rulership” a family-owned business. As we enter the 21^st century, things have changed very little in our diverse and technological world. Even in democratic nations our culture still fosters a mythology of the heroic leader. In the United States, a very popular television program now hosts prominent corporate leaders supposedly mentoring their younger interns. The climax of the show is when the interns are told by the heroic business leader, “you’re fired”!

Heroic leaders are viewed as almost romantic characters who single-handedly determine the fate of their organizations. Our culture is a reflection of this history from the secret agent who saves the world from nuclear destruction, to the lone cowboy who saves the town from evil outlaws. During times of war, even democratic nations consolidate more power into the hands of a single individual in a belief that the heroic leader will save the day.

The truth is that people usually exaggerate the importance of leaders to explain events in a way that fits with their assumptions or fears. It is difficult to explain random events such as uncontrollable forces of nature, supernatural phenomenon or unexpected catastrophe. Looking to a single heroic leader makes it easier to explain positive and negative events by attributing them to individual actions of a person. It helps us make sense out of events that are otherwise incomprehensible. This is a mistake because all leaders are human and have personal flaws. Idolizing any heroic leader will eventually lead to disappointment as their humanity and weaknesses become obvious.

For example, there is no doubt that Winston Churchill was a strong courageous leader for the British nation during the horrors of the 2^nd World War. He is often looked upon as a heroic leader. Yet, anyone who studies history can easily point to a few poor decisions he made that needlessly cost the lives of thousands of solders and innocent civilians. He was indeed the right man for the right time. But in reality the war was won because of the sacrifice and dedication of many and not because of a single heroic leader. Perhaps Britain would not have won the war without Churchill, but it certainly would not have won the war without the sacrifice of her young pilots flying their Spitfires above the skies of Britain!

The leadership tip for this month is to have a balanced perspective about heroic leaders. The mythology of a heroic leader is that they are expected to be wiser and more courageous than any one else. They are supposed to know everything going on around them. This is simply unrealistic and it is impossible for anyone to live up to this standard. It is true that some individuals have the skills and personality to galvanize everyone around them to a common cause. But leadership is always a shared quality, even though most of the unsung heroes are never recognized. In most cases, the greatest sacrifice is not made by the heroic leader… but by others. Be careful not to exaggerate the strengths or weaknesses of a heroic leader. Appreciate the contribution and skills they used to achieve their mission. But, don’t make the mistake of setting them on a pedestal as an idol of a certain cause. Don’t diminish the significant contribution of their colleagues and followers. As John Maxwell has written, “If you think you are leading and no one is following, you are only taking a walk.”

In the last two hundred years our governments, workplaces and families have changed dramatically. We can argue about whether these changes are good or bad. But, one thing is for sure! The mythology of the single heroic leader is ending. Yes, it is true that during times of war or sudden catastrophe we may always need a courageous single leader to guide us during the storm. But more than ever, leadership must be shared for our institutions to thrive and fulfill their purpose. We all must accept our responsibility to lead where and when we can. As followers we must also have leadership skills and lead upward when the person over us lacks certain talents that we have. The idea that leadership is exclusively from the “top… down” is obsolete. Leadership must now permeate an organization at every level for it to reach its potential, and everyone must be recognized for their contribution.

For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you that Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “In times of peace the people look most to their representatives; but in war, to the executive solely”.