Theories of Leadership

Today we studied the contingency theories of leadership in AMA class.

Charismatic leadership, Transactional leadership, Servant leadership and the like.

One thing that the professor mentioned that really set me thinking about how untrue it is.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I don't think power corrupts. Putting a person in a position of influence or leadership merely brings out a person's character. Leadership is like a magnifier of a person's values and beliefs.

If you don't know how to plan your life, you won't know how to plan the roadmap for an organization.

If you're quiet and don't communicate much, as a leader you will start getting miscommunications and misunderstandings within the organizations.

If deep in your heart, you're really a person who is insecure and needs affirmation from people around you, you'll do things when you're in leadership to glorify or find praise for yourself instead of serving the vision or organization.

Basically, the case of power corruption is really a reflection of our generation's lack of solid values in their lives.

God always brings a person through a period where his/her values are defined, refined, and created. Where he finds security and identity in His heavenly Father, and not having to find it elsewhere.

The problem comes when a person wants a position of leadership, wanting to lord over people to satisfy their insecure nature. That's when you see corruption.

Unrefined values before sending them for the test.

And leadership is a test of character, not so much a refiner of character. As a leader, what you are in your private life comes out and is put up on display for the whole world to see.

I never thought power corrupts, but rather it brings out the corruption of the human heart.