History of Leadership

The history of leadership is one that seems intricate and complex and that has been dated back for decades. From the beginning of time, till now, leadership has transformed in its concept and what its essential definition actually is. Its definition has morphed from being an ideal of finding the strongest, fastest, most skilled person, to a leader meaning that the individual is the smartest and most articulate being. The idea of leadership has at even one point meant an individual possessing certain traits, a certain “look,” and even an image that satisfies an ideal leader. Yet, today when I think about a leader and who really constitutes as a “good one” I don’t think about how powerful or commanding they are, and I do not imagine a leader being someone in a superior role or title to a group, but rather I think of a definition that falls more along the lines of the progressive thought of leadership. By a leader willing to give everyone equal treatment, and place themselves on the same level or at least relate to those they work with, this makes a leader admirable and more likely to be respected rather than just simply feared. By the leader first being a follower, this changes the whole dynamic relationship between the group and the leader. I believe that Hegel’s philosophy is especially true, since I think one would be more inclined to follow and collaborate with a leader who has personally been in their shoes, and has experienced what they have endured. Through simply sharing experiences and understanding on a first hand basis a followers life, this makes a leader more relatable, more involved, and able to intimately and sincerely understand the followers as individuals better as a result of having endured the same situations, experiences, and challenges as them. This helps not only because people will be able to see that you indeed worked hard and achieved your position rightfully and fairly as a result of experience, dedication and hard work. Furthermore this would cause followers to believe that if anyone that was in the same position as them can now achieve power and the ability of change, this will make them more inclined to work harder as a result of them visibly seeing the rewards of experience and hard work. Thus, as a result of a leader going through the same experiences as a follower, this also creates perspective and allows them to  see that “everyone has a worth value” (History of Leadership Powerpoint) which ultimately would help maximize the effort people place in their particular positions. I know that as someone interested in working for the government one day, I would love to learn from someone who has gone through the same struggles and initially was in the same or a similar position as me. And luckily, I was able to learn my first lesson from the president of ASUA who told me, “You have to start from the bottom and work your way up, that how I got here,” and seeing that she once worked in the same position as I am now, it gave me motivation to work hard so that one day I could reach my own goal and become a leader as she is now. Because after all, someone who has been in the same tough position as you at one moment or another and has achieved greatness is much more inspiring, respectable, and impressive then someone who was just handed something without struggle and sacrifice.  And that is why I believe those who share our experiences, know first hand what we are going through, and make an effort to relate and understand their “followers” are the real leaders in today’s society.