The Courageous Leader in a Modern Organizational Context
William Bergquist
Abstract: In a modern organizational context, there is a style of leadership that focuses not so much on personal bravery in defending the organization against an external enemy (common in a premodern organizational context) as on the capacity of the leader (as manager) to instill organizational bravery in those with whom this leader works – this is a process of EMPOWERMENT. The “enemy” doesn’t reside outside the organization. It resides inside the organization and can take on many forms. The enemy might be manifest in rivalry between different departments inside the organization or in the misunderstanding that exists among individuals or groups within the organization. The courageous leader who is operating in a modern organization is effective if she can manage the conflict between these departments, groups or individuals. At an even more profound level, the enemy resides within the power differentials that operate within virtually all organizations. Those who are “in power” control things and those who have little power feel as if they are pawns or victims of this power differential. The modern leader of courage can be effective if she can help increase the sense of power among those who typically feel powerless. She EMPOWERS as a leader and manager.