Leadership gurus

Over the last fifty years or so, different approaches to leadership have emerged through various phases, usually overlapping.

Characteristics

The general direction in which these have moved can be described as a shift from seeking the characteristics of the “perfect leader”:

• multi-talented
• heroic
• hierarchical
• using military figures as examples

towards a more human leader:

• modest
• vulnerable
• working through a team of followers
• welcoming their diversity and using their complementary skills.

Approaches to leadership

As thinking about leadership has developed, it has gone through four main approaches:

• traits of a leader - what you ARE --  the abilities you were born with
• behavioural - what you DO -- so leadership can be learned
• contingency - what you DO -- varies according to the situation and your followers
• transformational - what you CREATE -- derived from your beliefs.

The transformational approach is the most commonly accepted theory at present but watch this space!

The gurus

Some writers have produced fresh thinking on leadership which has influenced managers in many organisations. We profile some of these writers here:

• John Adair
• Kouzes and Posner
• Warren Bennis
• Rosabeth Moss Kanter
• Charles Handy.

If you have any favourites do put them forward in the discussion forum on the role of the leader.

Have your say

Who do you think the gurus of leadership are? Start a conversation or ask a question in the role of the leader forum.

Or contribute to this site by writing a case study about your experience. Contact knowhow@city.ac.uk for more information.