Socrates and Machiavelli leadership skills contrast
An effective leader should be result-oriented, assertive, and have an independent mind. The followers pay more attention to the results, especially if they are good, but quickly forget to scrutinize the means. A good leader understands the needs of the people or an organization and mobilizes all the necessary resources to find an amicable solution. Machiavelli perspective of leadership is that leaders should seek to be feared than being loved. He indicated that leaders ought to be wise and always learn how to give reasons for their legitimate or illegitimate actions. The following argumentative essay will contrast Machiavelli’s leadership skills with that of Socrates.
Argument from Machiavelli’s Perspective
According to Machiavelli, a good leader should be more focused on the result and not the means used in achieving them. The argument is based on the fact that most of the social phenomena are complex and require intelligent and courageous people who can make unconventional decisions. While most people would want a leader to act within the established legal framework, sometimes a leader can decide to make independent decisions that upset the status quo, but which yield good results for the society. For instance, the lawmakers may fail to pass a major piece of legislation aimed at improving the living standards of the people. The president may decide to exercise his/her power to achieve the same results. At the end of the day, good leaders know that what counts is not the means that were used, but the results that were achieved.
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An effective leader ought to be assertive. An assertive leader knows what should be done, how, and when. He is disciplined and offers direction to his followers. As an assertive leader, one does not need to stick to the advice of others, especially if they will not assist in achieving the desired goals. An assertive leader also commands discipline within his/her followers and demands productivity. In the organizations, for instance, an assertive leader can enhance the output level of the workers by ensuring that each remains focused on the task. The leader knows that he will be judged by what he achieved while in power.
Machiavelli also indicated that a leader should have an independent mind. This means that the leader must be able to make good decisions without necessarily having any external influences. Most of the leaders with independent minds do not consult. They trust that whatever decision they make, it is the best in addressing the real issues affecting the people. A leader with an independent might must be knowledgeable and experienced on the issues affecting the individuals and institutions.
Counterarguments from Socrates’ Perspective
Socrates had a different perspective on leadership, which contrasts that of Machiavelli. Socrates believed that an effective leader should be moral and core values that determine the kind of the decision they make. While leaders should be result-oriented, the question should be of the means used in achieving them. Socrates thinks that a good leader is guided by the laws and the established core values. The core values may include equality, fairness, and service. His argument is that going against the law, morality, and core values may cause harm to some people, which is unacceptable. Going against the law just to pursue results, may lead to a state of anarchy and human suffering. On the issue of being assertive, Socrates thinks that a leader should be able to command respect and offer sound leadership. Unlike Machiavelli, Socrates believes that a good leader should be able to establish a strong relationship with his/her followers. The leader should be in constant consultation with the subjects in order to understand the issues affecting them and what needs to be done. According to Socrates, being assertive does not mean isolating the followers in the major decision making. In the workplace, a good relationship between leaders and the employees has been found to increase employee job satisfaction and productivity. There is also an enhanced communication. Socrates also thinks that a leader should have an independent mind. An independent mind means that the leader can be trusted to help people navigate through various challenges affecting them. However, Socrates rejects the notion that a leader knows everything and therefore does not require any assistance in decision making. Socrates argues that a leader should, first of all, ensure that he is knowledgeable and has experience on matters affecting those that he leads. Secondly, a good leader should know that he has strengths and weaknesses. This means that he may need to consult his advisers on the main complex issues. Consulting others does not mean that the leader is weak. It implies that one recognizes the role of the followers in achieving the desired goals.
In conclusion, both Socrates and Machiavelli indicate that a good leader is result-oriented, assertive, and independent. The only different between the two theorists is what the leaders should do in achieving such skills and goals. For Machiavelli, the leader can use unconventional means to achieve the goals. On the contrary, Socrates thinks that circumventing the rules, core values, and morality might lead to the state of anarchy. The bottom-line is that leaders should strive to obey the laws and core values always.
