Leadership—a driving force or empty talk?

However, if, as we have seen, more education, training, and professionalization is not always the ideal way to improve society and its institutions, maybe leadership can do the trick and achieve fine results? And maybe this is the answer to the frustrations experienced by many groups and individuals? Perhaps good leadership can lead to a better working life and results that will satisfy shareholders and tax payers? This is what is claimed, on a broad front today—perhaps somewhat too widely. Leadership can be seen as a way of boosting the status and position of managers. Going from mere managers to becoming leaders parallels the efforts many occupations undergo to become more professional. ‘Leadershipization’ and professionalization can therefore be seen as parallel phenomena, triggering and reinforcing each other. The status boosting of groups of employees makes managers extra eager to add a new impressive quality to what they do. Recent decades have witnessed an enormous expansion of interest in ‘leadership’. Contemporary discussion and books about managerial leadership certainly cover a broad terrain, and there are no limits to what leadership is supposed to accomplish in terms of improving the feelings, thinking, values, ethics, change-mindedness, and the satisfaction and performance of followers (subordinates). The leader has become one of the dominant heroes of our time—even a mythical figure. When faced with major crises or even mediocre performances, cries for superior leadership are heard. All kinds of institutions, from firms to schools and universities to churches, are supposed to benefit greatly from more and better leadership. Whatever the problem, leadership has become the solution, and it is a standard recipe for success. Much of this interest in leadership revolves around change and development, and the ability of leaders to get people involved in and committed to opportunities beyond their everyday realities. Employees may be bored, tired, or alienated at work, but effective leadership is expected to address such problems. Followers are thought to be inspired and influenced by leaders, thus overcoming uncertainty, narrow mindedness, and low motivation.