Leadership: Leaders, Followers, Environments

Goals and motivation

Evolutionary concepts are useful in understanding dynamics between leaders and followers, including the proclivity to imitate, to follow, and to resist bossy or domineering leaders. These concepts provide a useful foundation from which to view power in leadership as well as the processes of motivation and persuasion. The ability to persuade and motivate is intimately related to the importance of group goals to members of the group. If the goals have no relevance to followers and group members, leaders will be challenged to achieve them. Dictators and totalitarian rulers finesse this difficulty by using force: If you don't go along with the dictator's wishes, you will be persuaded by force and intimidation. This is why we observe that totalitarian regimes are characterized by suppression and strong police presence. If goals are important to followers, the process of persuasion and motivation becomes easier.