Transformational Leadership
I watched a documentary this week on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. I was intrigued to learn about this famous woman leader that Meryl Streep played in “The Iron Lady”. Actually my husband is British and I have listened to my mother in law talk about Margaret Thatcher as if she was a close and personal friend. I was ready to learn more!
“Power is a way of organizational life” (Pfeffer, 2011). In politics this has even more meaning. Power and position are everything. Before the Faulklands war Margaret Thatcher was not well liked and did not have many strong supporters. When the Faulklands were taken over by the Argentine Army in 1982, Thatcher’s reputation was suffering. Thatcher quickly stepped up into the public eye and started to make some very deliberate and bold moves to regain land that belonged to Britain. Thatcher’s ability to make the very tough decision needed in order to regain control of the Faulklands was received very positively by the people of Britain. Margret’s reputation skyrocketed into “Presidential” status.
Thatcher was known for being strong, bold and opinionated. Why were these traits interpreted differently before and after the Faulklands victory? I was struck that being that bold in one situation was seen as weak while demonstrating boldness in a different situation would be so positively powerful on one’s popularity and confidence ratings. I was more dumbfounded to think that this positive reception occurred when lives were lost.
I guess it comes down to leaders having all of the attributes related to Transformational leadership. I can see where Thatcher’s resolve over the Faulklands put into the category of having idealized influence. “These leaders usually have very high standards of moral and ethical conduct and can be counted on to do the right thing”. (Northouse, 2013, p. 191). I can see that Thatcher’s ruthless protection of her Country and willingness to take such a strong stand gave the people of Britain confidence that she would always do the right thing for them and Britain.
Northouse, P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Pfeffer, Jeffrey (2011). YouTube: Power and Influence in the Collaborative Age. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXGQqwVb018#t=151