BUS603: Managing People

The history of the Western world marks the rise and the fall of the "cult of leadership", also known as the "cult of personality". Rooted in antiquity and common until the middle of the twentieth century, it cost countless human lives, societies, and civilizations. Long before social psychologists described the close relationship between authority and the "thirst for obedience", and how followers' perceptions and beliefs toward prototypical leaders may turn them into "leader worshipers", leaders and company managers have used manipulative tactics to gain followers and maintain their power.

History shows us that the consequences of the abuse of leadership power have been ferocious and destructive for both leaders and followers, as well as for organizations, societies, and nations. Major world problems seem to revolve around unethical and toxic leaders, and social environments have given birth to such despotic leaders as Queen Mary, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Augusto Pinochet, and others. Thus, it can be assumed that the leadership paradigm of the twentieth century did not help the majority of the world's population overcome poverty and injustice to live a decent life.

Moreover, while the industrial era segregated individuals as masters and slaves, managers and subordinates, separate and parallel identities of leaders and followers, employers and employees, the post-industrial era emboldened followers to take leadership roles and improve leader-follower relationships. For instance, in the United States, the second part of the twentieth century marks the era of followers and the beginning of a shift from the corporate mindset of profit for the few and "corporate rights" to a collective mindset of profit for all and "human rights" due to the rise of the post-industrial generations, Xers and Millennials, and environmental awareness. As a result, 90% of the value- and mission-driven organizations in the non-profit, charity, and public sectors, as well as in philanthropy and freelance entrepreneurship, that are currently in operation were created after the 1950s.

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, the world has continued to change. Currently, we live in the post-industrial era of the information and digital age. Today's college students and young professionals, who represent the Millennial and Z generations, have gained access to electronic information on science, art, history, entertainment, video games, and electronic education and are more informed about the world and their environment than ever before. These generations have even created their own digital and virtual communities and languages with district grammar and vocabulary. They have also begun to lead and follow each other through online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.