Heroic vs Shared Leadership

The qualities listed below are just observations and not opinions on right or wrong. The choice of leadership style always needs to be accessed according to the competence and emotional maturity of the leader and each member of the team. Example leaders can use Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership to manage the team and stick to their core qualities; Vision, communication acumen, innovation, collaboration, integrity and competence.

Three Key Characteristics of Heroic (unitary command)
– In control to take responsibility

– Organise work according to what has historically been seen as rational and sensible

– Looked at as someone that can inspire and save the team/organisation.

Three Key Characteristics of Post-Heroic or Shared Leadership
– They have more time for their co-workers and for reflecting on strategy.

– Two leaders are smarter than one, meaning they have several competencies required for the role.

– The teams’ interests can be represented at the same time at two different managerial engagements.

– High risk requires high control. This is especially true in contract management and billing environment where audits of user access, contractual compliance, accounting rules and delegation are required.

Four Organisational Advantages of the Unitary Command Perspective
– A unitary command leader is seen to be a hero that can come save the day, someone that has all the answers.

– This leader is required at times to inspire and keep the team on the right path working towards a single vision and achievable measurable goals.

– The unitary leader is someone that is held accountable. This means there is someone who has authority and responsibility to make decisions and ensure success.

– This leader is easily identified by the press and can be sold to the public as hero. What makes a team succeed video (Insider, 2016)

Four Organisational Advantages of the Shared Leadership Perspective
– There is less vulnerability in case of a leaders’ absence of resignation.

– There is lower risk for sub optimal solutions if the leadership is truly shared by the management team.

– There is less stress on the leadership and young ambitious employees can be retained.

– Shared leadership allows for sustainable leadership and injection of new ideas which can be further improved by having a diversified team.