Kudos to these ladies for setting the bar on what it means to be a leader in the world/movie settings and by allowing their different approaches to leadership enrich the lives of the many people they have/had touched.
With that said, the three types of leadership approaches I choose to high light on are the charismatic leaders, transformational leaders and value based leaders.
1: Charismatic Leadership: Princess Diana
Princess Diana. Enough said right? One of the most influential leaders of the 1990's, Princess Diana, or better known as the People's Princess, was one that catapulted humanitarian causes into the spotlight. Using her influence and touch of elegance, Diana was able to be on the forefront on critical issues ranging from AIDS awareness to land mines still harming people. She captured the imagination and hearts of people around the globe who looked to her as a role model which is something she never took lightly. As the "People's Princess," Diana was a strong, confident woman in the face of adversity within the monarchy and to those that opposed her. I choose her as a representative of charismatic leadership from a clip by BBC, because she is someone that not only takes this approach to a whole new level but she is someone that I highly respect and feel that we need more Dianas in the world today.
2. Transformational Leadership: Eowyn from Lord of The Rings
This woman is a baller, lets be honest here. The Witch King (pictured above here) has just about murdered Eowyn's father (the king) and has wiped out most of her father's army. This strikes a chord within herself and she becomes determined to be the leader that her father's people so desperately need. She steps up by disguising as a man in armor and encourages her followers to join her in combat to defeat the orcs (aka the bad guys). The movie outlines the emotional bond Eowyn shares with her fellow soldiers and how by encouraging them with challenges, she herself has grown into an even better leader. All of that comes to full light in this clip where she kills off the Witch King who cannot be killed by a man. As a transformational leader, Eowyn steps up where no man had before to do the impossible alongside her dedicated followers who grew into better people because of her. I choose this clip because it outlines how one can do the unthinkable by being told they can't do something originally and take that and convert it into something of substantial quality...like killing the Witch King terrorizing your village!
3. Value Based Leader: Carrie Underwood
Don't worry I didn't choose her just because she is my celebrity crush...ok well maybe a small part, but thats besides the point. It seems that in the entertainment world today, we are constantly reminded of the what looks to be the nonexistence of any values left in hollywood. From Kim Kardashian and her hotmess drama to Robert Patison being cheated on by Kristen Steward, we are reminded of what the world is coming to. My point is, it is quite refreshing to come across celebrities who are still able to exude their personal values in the crazy world of fortune and fame and is why Carrie Underwood stands out among others. She understands that she has a meaningful inner life that influences her beliefs and actions. For example, have you ever heard of Carrie Underwood involved in any type of situation related to a scandal? No. Is she bouncing in and out of marriages every 72 hours? No. She is someone who is proud to share her faith about being a Christian and uses this to brand her message. By leading with a value based approach, I think Carrie is a great role model for many, especially those interested in the entertainment world and having her as an example that it is still possible to lead with values, even in the vastness of hollywood.
So what does a Princess, knight and musician all have in common? They form a trifecta of tremendous women with possibilities who did/have accomplished feats that are truly inspiring and who lead by example for their followers.
What are some clips that you think exude the leadership approaches most effectively?
Oh my goodness. All of these Lord of the Rings references are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhen you compare Eowyn to transformational leadership, the aspect that really resonates is the one concerning individual consideration. She, as a leader, is very inclusive. I'm thinking specifically here of Merry and how she wouldn't necessarily treat another person like she does him, but she will have the same amount of respect towards both.
Actually, looking at the relationship between Merry and Eowyn would be really interesting in terms of transformational leadership. Take the charisma and interpretation aspect of it for example. There's loyalty, trust, and emulation between them. I can think of specific instances for each [that needn't be elaborated here]. The follower, Merry, is also inspired to implement the leader's, Eowyn's, vision.
Props for bringing her up, JBall!
(Although I never really liked her because she was trying to get with Aragorn when he is CLEARLY not a free agent.)