In the history there were various different leaders, which had a very good leadership qualities and leadership styles. The Athenian statesman Pericles is known by its democratic leadership style. He made sure to restrict the office and public distribution in order to make all accountable under the law. Under the democratic rule the freedom of investment as well as trade was accomplished. The leader in the 5th century BC made sure the traditional Greek culture was valued within the economic flourishing with other nations (Buckley, 1996).
He was a factual leader with popular policies since he supported education, and knowledge which resulted in advanced knowledge of medicine, development of theater as well as some of the today’s most known art and Athens sculptures. He was very effective in the military as well as in political sphere which was even more evident by his death when Greece saw a dramatic decline in all spheres (Buckley, 1996).
Queen Elizabeth I is known by agentic as well as communal leadership qualities. The monarch ruled in an autocratic style. On the other hand, the Queen of England overcame the gender stereotypes and leading qualities which were in the years of her ruling prescribed to men not to women. The Queen managed to unify the country under her almost 50 years of rule in 1558 onward. The time of her leading was the time of unification, public support for monarchic policies and political stability. On the other side Elizabeth I. was also known for the harsher punishment.
Her rule is known to be avoiding conflicts, without major systematic reforms which must be viewed in the light of the time period as well as the position of women being in charge of in that time in the traditional man’s role. The leading of the Queen is known by consoling of choosing men who served her as advisors. Further on, the Queen puts her leading of the country prior her personal life, which is seen from sacrificing her personal desires from which the name Virgin Elizabeth is derived (Johnson, 2004). The reign of the Queen Elizabeth I, can be described as autocratic. All in all, she had the needed leadership qualities.
Simon Bolivar was a South American independence leader born in 1783. He was well educated and understood that not all populations can go from different ruling to the democratic ruling. However, he believed that the liberty and democracy are the best way of governance, which must come from the people and should not be forced. His leadership legacy is the revolution against the Spanish empire. He was one of the greatest generals which won independence in different countries and known by the name of the Liberator (Arana, 2013).
His main leadership characteristics were the courage based on the sense of justice with the knowledge based on which he gained the confidence of the people. His preparedness to stand behind what he believed made Bolivar, one of the bravest leaders, which assured his followers, which accepted his ruling and command in different geographical locations. His military leadership style and revolts – civil war and independence wars in a vast territory resulted in winning the independence for Panama, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia. He had a clear goal to achieve the liberty, freedom and equality (Arana, 2013).
Winston Churchill leadership qualities are known by his good political actions. Churchill is known as a war leader. He had the ability to accomplish the goals and decisions also with ruthlessness. The decision-making is one of his best qualities. He could be described based on his actions during both world wars as a charismatic leader with good communication skills. There were several inspiring speeches, which gave the Britain and the allies the courage to fight against Germany and major issues in Britain was facing in his years of governance. He was consistent with clearness of goals with the trust of the people. He had a great influence in the island with his ability of inspiring people (Gilbert, 2007).
He expressed the determination and passion and can be regarded as a transformational leader, since he envisioned the future of the British people and guided them towards the desired goal. He was a role model in the moral actions with which characteristics he is written in the history of Britain (Gilbert, 2007).
Adolf Hitler is known charismatic historical Germany leader. He managed to attract not just German people, but also foreigners. He was great public talker with the clear goal orientated style. He was a visionary who managed to get the population on his side. He was very dominating which was seen from his governance and dictatorship in German in his last year of governance. He was in control of all state affairs and was very manipulative with achieving his desires in mobilizing the population. Hitler rule was autocratic based on the total obedience and subordinates. His leadership becomes disconnected from the real events. He overruled the religion and based his reign on science (Bear, 2016).
His greatest characters were clear goals and enthusiasm along with the charisma with which he gained the German population. During the time the German was economically flurrying after the Frist World War and people were employed and a lot of European big projects and infrastructure was built during the time of Hitler reign (Bear, 2016).
The Chinese leader of the Communist Party, Mao Zedong had professional skills, theoretical knowledge and skills of organizing the country based on the Marxism-Leninism principles. Based on the slogans he achieved unification under the Chinese Communist Party. His rule was autocratic with the focus on the military. The mix of various leadership characteristics and styles can be found in one of the most important Chinese figures (Sullivan, 2012).
Mao can be regarded as a transformational leader with its vision of gender equality and powerful China, which inspired the population which followed his ambitions. He encouraged industrialization and agriculture along with the public welfare. He was charismatic, worked independently and was committed to his goals which he expressed in well performed public speeches (Sullivan, 2012).
Margaret Thatcher had a clear vision and directions with values and charisma. She had the ability of ruthlessness to carry out the needed actions seen also in the Falklands. The elected Prime Minister in 1979 was very conservative. She had the characteristics important for leading such as dominance, confidence, intellect, enthusiasm and argumentative skills (Knight, Masciulli and Molchanov, 2009).
She was firmed, determined and orientated with the strong leadership with which she gained the name Iron lady. Hers leadership style also falls under the autocratic one. The quick decisions rank her among the transformational and transactional leaders (Knight, Masciulli and Molchanov, 2009).
Based on the research of one of the famous and most influential historical leaders it is evident that leaders must possess different skills, characters, leadership styles and power which does not necessarily fall in one leadership style or into one leadership theory.
Work cited
Arana, Marie. (2013). Bolivar: The Epic Life of the Man Who Liberated South America.
Simon & Schuster: United States of America.
Bear, Ileen. (2016). Adolf Hitler: A Biography. Alpha Editions: United States of America.
Buckley, Terry. (1996). Aspects of Greek History 750-323BC: A Source-Based Approach.
Routledge: United States of America.
Gilbert, Martin. (2007). Winston Churchill’s War Leadership. Vintage Books: New York.
Johnson, Christa. (2004). Queen Elizabeth I: Past and Present. Transaction Publishers: United
States.
Knight, W. Andy, Masciulli, Joseph, Molchanov, A. Mikhail. (2009). The Ashgate Research
Companion to Political Leadership. Ashgate Publishing Company: England.
Sullivan, Lawrence. (2012). Leadership and Authority in China: 1895-1978. Lexington
Books: United Kingdom.
