The greatest among you

The concept of leadership has likely engaged the mind of humanity since prehistoric times, with each society developing its own perspectives of leadership (Bass, 2008). Taoism proposed that leaders should act so that followers think success is from their own efforts. The Greeks believed that great leaders are just, wise, shrewd, and courageous. Confucian philosophy emphasized that leaders should set a moral example and use rewards and punishments to mold moral behavior. Ancient Egyptians believed that leadership consisted of not only leaders but also of followers. They then developed structures for enforcing leadership control over the followers. The Old Testament offered prophets, priests, and kings like Abraham, Moses, and David; these leaders represented a jealous God who rewarded and punished followers and non-followers based on their actions and beliefs. The New Testament presented moral and persuasive servant leaders like Jesus and Paul, who encouraged followers and non-followers to use their free agency to follow a benevolent God, who would repeatedly forgive them for their behaviors if they believed and repented.

Such varying historical perspectives influenced volumes of writings about great and infamous leaders. They shaped societies and civilizations and offered limitless maxims about what makes a great leader. The experience and wisdom of the ages remain influential in popular dialogues and literature and provide scholars with a rich resource of concepts to test through research.

The ideals of democratic leadership practice and recent writings on servant leadership ring familiar with ancient perspectives. In circa 600 BCE, Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote that the leader must “place yourself below them. If you want to lead people, you must learn how to follow them” (Mitchell, 1988, p. 66). Later, Jesus would admonish that “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).