Book Review by Larry Marks of The Myth of The Strong leader by Archie Brown

 

So tell me what  makes a transformational leader? 

The author compares and contrasts the leadership styles of Franklin Roosevelt, Mikhail Gorbachev, Deng Xiaoping, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, for example in this wonderful volume. The odd idea is that it does not present the leadership style at specific points in time in their styles, since this may change based on the issue or crisis which is faced or may be the defining moment to reacting to the stress. He does not bring in any business leaders or other NGO leaders.

It’s an interesting book since he compares political leaders such as Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan or Gandhi. The reader has to remember that the author is a political scientist. I cannot tell his political leanings, which is whether he is a democrat or republican or a Tory or other party. This is a great and is what makes this book a success.

He looks at each leader such as Disraeli or Reagan or Lyndon Johnson and determines what made them a success at the time of their leadership. He calls them “transformational leaders.”  They were on the spotlight and in charge at specific times in history when they made a difference. Leadership is opportunistic. Reagan was a great communicator, and was interested in the big picture, a motivational speaker, and a strategist. For good or bad, he delegated to his expert managers the governance of the government agencies such as George Schultz. What is interesting is that the author then looks at each leader and raises in some cases whether the leader could have been successful or transformational at a different point in time. Could Ronald Reagan have been just as transformational during World War 2 instead of Roosevelt? Is this revisionist history? Yes.

Successful leaders can communicate their strategy, can appeal directly to the public, be concerned about the public on a genuine basis, be strong, ready to implement the public’s wishes too, but able to take feedback. There are no perfect leaders such as there are no perfect people. The leaders mentioned by the author have serious flaws, but the author paints a holistic picture for the reader which is successful.