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Dave Dalton's avatar

In my studies of leadership styles, the most highly effective was the “emergent” leader, who’s example set the tone for loyalty and engagement from the cohort. Least effective in those terms was the Authoritarian. Those types, leading only by fear of reprisal, eventually collapse of their ultimate loss of loyalty and support

In the meantime, chaos reigns

In this case, Authoritarian leads to MAD, as “leader” takes his ball, the “world” and says, if I can’t be leader, we’ll all die together

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J. Horowitz's avatar

Regarding leadership, according to the Tao Te Ching (Stephen Mitchell translation, ch. 17):

When the Master governs, the people

are hardly aware that he exists.

Next best is a leader who is loved.

Next, one who is feared.

The worst is one who is despised.

If you don't trust the people,

you make them untrustworthy.

The Master doesn't talk, he acts.

When his work is done,

the people say, "Amazing:

we did it, all by ourselves!"

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