The shepherd theory originates from the ancient saying by Mohammad which states, that no prophet has never worked as a shepherd (Adair 17). In the Islamic holy book, David was also recognized as having been a great shepherd during his youthful days. In one of the psalms, David said that God had chosen him to be his servant and had anointed him to become a king having led his youthful life as a shepherd (Adair 18).
It is obvious from the above passage that the metaphor called ‘shepherd’ strongly symbolized great leadership characteristics, which were even recognized by the almighty God (Adair 18). That is why ancient leadership theory authors used the same metaphor in most of their great works (Adair 19).
According to the shepherd theory, there are three vital roles of a good leader, which include:
- Achieving the tasks which the leader is charged with (Adair 18)
- Holding a team or group together in unity (Adair 18)
- Accomplishing every team member’s need (Adair 18).
The shepherd theory indicates that leadership is a journey and the theory is so strong in its overtone and greatly affects the modern leadership theory. It is a simple and serviceable model, that can be used by the modern leaders even though its lessons seem to be more implicit (Adair 18).
The shepherd theory gives us a quick insight into how a leader is supposed to be. It indicates that a shepherd has to lead the flock, sometimes walking several miles a day in search of the scarce pasture that grows in the wilderness (Adair 18). Lambs in a usual way follow their mothers, while the full-grown sheep follow the dominant ram (Adair 18). To mark their path sheep have hoof-glands that emit a distinct scent (Adair 19). Individuals observed this phenomenon in the ancient days and found out that docile sheep could be tamed and induced to follow human leaders instead of following the usual dominant ram (Adair 19). Shepherds had dogs in the old days, but the dogs were used to protect the sheep and goats and not to round up the domesticated animals or drive them away (Adair 19).
How Shepherd Theory Affects the Modern Leadership Theory
According to the theory, leaders are supposed to lead from the front, and, when the team is performing well, the leader can move behind for the team to gather endurance and management skills which they need to face any challenge. The leader, according to the theory, can also move beside the team (Adair 19). In case the team is large, then the main leader can take control of the team from the front while the assistants monitor the team from behind to ensure that the team stays together and does things in harmony (Adair 19).
According to the shepherd theory, leaders are always supposed to be in close contact with the teams which they are leading, therefore the unity and cohesion of the team are very vital. In case one member of the team develops bad conduct, then it is upon the leader to do all to get him or her back on the right track. This justifies the saying, that “strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered” (Adair 20).
Conclusion
Modern leadership theory borrows greatly from the shepherd theory, and the key issues borrowed are:
- Leadership should be done from the front (Adair 23)
- In leadership, setting good examples is vital for the success of the team (Adair 23)
- Apart from leading from the front, the team leader has to keep the team together in unity and care for each individual’s interests (Adair 23)
- A good leader is the one who puts the team’s interests at heart (Adair 23)
It is through this leadership values and qualities that the shepherd theory has contributed so much to the modern leadership theory.
Works Cited
Adair, Eric John. The leadership of Muhammad. London: Kogan page publishers, 2010.