Leadership Evolution in Public Administration Essay (Critical Writing)

Leadership is defined as an influence process through the utilization of communication tools to attain some set goals. Byzantine Constantinople was a great leader of the Ottoman Empire who steered the empire to an unsurpassed echelon in 1453 in the East of the Mediterranean and southeast Europe. The economic power of the empire was strengthened through control of most of the land; which acted as isthmus connecting two continents providing a strategic geographical position for trade; making him an icon of religion as well as a symbol of unity for the people of the empire (Goffman, 2002).

Napoleon Bonaparte was a great leader of the 18^th century known for his violence during his reign in the French empire. He set rules and policies which were to be followed by the subjects to the latter therefore acting as props for his power. He had amassed extreme power to the extent that his followers had no say on the running of the empire but to execute his orders (Zorn, 2008).

Barack Obama is one of the most powerful depictions of leadership in the 21^st century. Obama rose to power after a landslide victory in the 2008 general elections to become the 44^th president of the United States of America. He rules by the policies developed by the senators who closely work with him. The ministers also rally around him to ensure that his mandate to the citizens is successful.

The formal study of leadership started during the industrial revolution where leadership was scientifically viewed as a function of production before that leadership was a subject of two main production variables; land and labor. Leadership then evolved to the current team-centered form of leadership which calls for participation of subordinates and the leaders (Deegan, 2009).

References

Deegan, D. (2009). past, present and future. The changing face of leadership, 9 (3), 45-49.

Goffman, D. (2002). The Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge university press.

Zorn, C. D. (2008). Aphorisms and Thoughts of Napoleon Bonaparte. United Kingdom: TJ International Ltd.