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As a business student, majoring in marketing, and sociology student, whose unit this semester focuses on power, I see leadership in a far more, I guess, cynical way (also probably because I've become a far more cynical person over the last couple of years). When I think of leaders, I think of CEO's of major international corporations who are screwing over third world countries, or the "influenced", to get a better dividends for their shareholders and create more profits to keep the board of directors happy.
When I think of influence, which is basically power, what comes to mind are companies trying to influence consumers to buy their product, over the products of others, to make more money, not to end absolute poverty in Africa or stop global warming.
And power, or influence, is used to convince people to do things they wouldn't, or worse, make them think they want to do them and it'll be beneficial for them, when really, it benefits the influencer. Why is leadership so good when that's what it really is? It's really the powerful using their position to get what they want and inflicting their beliefs and opinions on those without power. Also, it must be said that Hitler was one of the greatest leaders of the modern age, yes, horrible, terrible, never to be repeated things occurred because of it and it hardly needs to be stated that no-one would suggest a good leader should be like Hitler, yet there is no way anyone could disagree that his leadership changed the world. There is also the idea of paternalism and whether you should be able to tell others how to live just because you think it is the best thing for them and have the power to make them do it.
Amazing how one seminar can be described as "amazing" and "inspiring" by some people and cause me so much angst!
Author removed for privacy
As a business student, majoring in marketing, and sociology student, whose unit this semester focuses on power, I see leadership in a far more, I guess, cynical way (also probably because I've become a far more cynical person over the last couple of years). When I think of leaders, I think of CEO's of major international corporations who are screwing over third world countries, or the "influenced", to get a better dividends for their shareholders and create more profits to keep the board of directors happy.
When I think of influence, which is basically power, what comes to mind are companies trying to influence consumers to buy their product, over the products of others, to make more money, not to end absolute poverty in Africa or stop global warming.
And power, or influence, is used to convince people to do things they wouldn't, or worse, make them think they want to do them and it'll be beneficial for them, when really, it benefits the influencer. Why is leadership so good when that's what it really is? It's really the powerful using their position to get what they want and inflicting their beliefs and opinions on those without power. Also, it must be said that Hitler was one of the greatest leaders of the modern age, yes, horrible, terrible, never to be repeated things occurred because of it and it hardly needs to be stated that no-one would suggest a good leader should be like Hitler, yet there is no way anyone could disagree that his leadership changed the world. There is also the idea of paternalism and whether you should be able to tell others how to live just because you think it is the best thing for them and have the power to make them do it.
Amazing how one seminar can be described as "amazing" and "inspiring" by some people and cause me so much angst!
Yesterday at 11:43pm
Chad Walker
That's a pretty deep analysis anonymous. As a business student also I like to look at things in an unbiased manner. I would just like to ask your opinion on the life of people such as Mother Teresa, Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela and so on; they are certainly leaders in the world standing.
I would propose that leadership is as you say, influence. Maxwell (2002) wrote "Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less". Would it be true to say that not all leaders are therefore acting to manipulate others, but simply have influence over others?
The true essence of leadership is one of providing another with vision, purpose, encouragement and direction. If the leader is heading in a direction I do not wish to go, I simply do not follow negating their authority and leadership over my life.
I would propose that your observations are not a reflection of leadership itself, rather the ethics of the individual using their authority in leadership. If leadership has the power to influence for both the good of mankind and to its detriment, then leadership is simply a tool. Like a shovel, can be used to kill someone, or used to dig deep foundations for great structures to be built upon.
Just a thought
I would propose that leadership is as you say, influence. Maxwell (2002) wrote "Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less". Would it be true to say that not all leaders are therefore acting to manipulate others, but simply have influence over others?
The true essence of leadership is one of providing another with vision, purpose, encouragement and direction. If the leader is heading in a direction I do not wish to go, I simply do not follow negating their authority and leadership over my life.
I would propose that your observations are not a reflection of leadership itself, rather the ethics of the individual using their authority in leadership. If leadership has the power to influence for both the good of mankind and to its detriment, then leadership is simply a tool. Like a shovel, can be used to kill someone, or used to dig deep foundations for great structures to be built upon.
Just a thought
10 hours ago
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