By: Dale Weckbacher
In a class on leadership I recently attended, the instructor posed a question on whether leaders like Hitler or Stalin could be considered great leaders. When asked to write a response to the question, I came up with the following response. I believe it is a good lesson for us to learn today.
The idea of greatness in a leader is in the eyes of those who follow them. Some researchers divide charismatic leadership into two theories. The leader-centered theory that believes the source of charisma in a leader is due to the follower’s response to some exceptional/exemplary characteristics of behavior exhibited by the leader. In the follower-centered theory, the followers project exceptional/exemplary characteristics on the leader (Avolio & Yammarino, 2002).
Perhaps the followers of leaders like Hitler or Stalin initially projected exceptional/exemplary characteristics on these men and saw them as great leaders. After the followers placed them in their position of leadership, they began to develop a personal charismatic relationship with their followers (Humphreys, Zhao, Ingram, Gladstone, & Basham, 2010). The leader focusing on how the followers perceive them characterizes this type of leader follower relationship. The leader becomes obsessed with his or her image and can even begin to exhibit narcissistic behavior (Avolio & Yammarino, 2002).
Leaders like Hitler and Stalin can be considered great due to their ability to rise to power. The events that occurred after their rise to power are what history records and why many today do not see these leaders as great. However, for the purposes of the study of leadership theory we cannot ignore what these men did because there is much to learn from what they did right to rise to power, and how they fell after assuming power.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:18 that pride precedes a fall. When a leaders becomes caught up in themselves, their pride will lead to their downfall. Both Hitler and Stalin were victims of their pride.
A classmate of mine then responded by asking how a group of people could just stand by and watch their leader do such horrid crimes. After much thought I responded with the following.
We can also look at this from the viewpoint of the follower. In post World War I Germany, the people were experiencing hyperinflation (Burdelin & Burkett, 1992). The people of the nation were struggling to survive and have their basic needs met. When people find themselves in this condition, a leader who seems to have all the answers to their pressing needs can easily sway them.
Unfortunately, this leader-centered leader may have a hidden agenda ignored by people primarily focused on survival. Hitler alluded to his hidden agenda of building a master race and elimination of any inferior race (i.e. the Jews) in Mein Kampf but the people were so focused on having their needs met that they appointed Hitler leader without looking for any hidden agendas (Carr, 2007).
The lesson to learn from this is that when appointing a leader, whether a political leader or someone to lead an organization, conduct sufficient research to insure the leader has no hidden agendas that could damage the nations or organization’s mission.
Prior to the November 2008 election, our nation found itself in an economic emergency. The focus on the nation was on how to recover from this emergency. Common sense was thrown out the window and the nation fell for the words of someone they believed had all the answers. Individuals (e.g. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Mark Levin) were sounding the alarm regarding Obama’s radical tendencies but few listened and we find ourselves today being led by a narcissistic leader who would rather play golf and vacation then address the needs of the people who elected him.
This November, we must send a clear message to Obama. We now know about your hidden radical agenda. We have had enough and are going to take control of the Congress and Senate away from you in the November 2010 elections. We will then begin the process of electing a new President in November 2012. One who’s agenda is restoring the greatness of this country and restoring economic opportunities for the people instead of regulating and legislating these opportunities out of existence.
We now know your hidden agenda Mr. Obama and we soundly reject it and will vote for change that works in this next election.
References:
Avolio, B. J., & Yammarino, F. J. (2002). Transformational and Charismatic Leadership: The Road Ahead. Bingley , UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Burdelin, R. C.K., & Burkett, P. (1992). Money, credit, and wages in hyperinflation:
Post-World War I Germany. Economic Inquiry, 30(3), 479-495. doi:8590893 ProQuest Database
Carr, R. (2007). Mein Kampf - The text, its themes and Hitler's vision. History Review, 57(), 30-35. doi:1289953491 Research Library
Drath, W.H. (2008, November/December). Leadership Beyond Leaders and Followers. Issues & Observations, 28(5), 20-22.
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