What makes great leaders great?

by | Mar 28, 2025 | Essays

 

Many of us can think of leaders we have come to admire, be they historical figures, pillars of the industry we work in, or leaders we know personally. The leadership of individuals such as Abraham Lincoln and Margaret Thatcher has been studied and discussed repeatedly. However, you may have interacted with leaders you feel demonstrated equally competent leadership without ever having a book written about their approaches.

What makes great leaders great? Every leader is different, of course, but one area of commonality is the leadership philosophy that great leaders develop and practice. A leadership philosophy is basically an attitude held by leaders that acts as a guiding principle for their behavior. While formal theories on leadership continue to evolve over time, great leaders seem to adhere to an overarching philosophy that steers their actions.

What is your leadership philosophy?

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Based on this analysis, my “leadership philosophy,” if I were to embody one, would be centered around the following guiding principles:

1. Clarity and Purpose-Driven Action:

  • Great leaders excel at articulating a clear vision and purpose. They define the “why” behind the “what” and inspire others to align with that objective. My philosophy would prioritize providing clear, concise information and ensuring that all actions are directed towards well-defined goals.

2. Data-Informed and Rational Decision-Making:

  • Effective leadership relies on sound judgment. My approach would emphasize the importance of analyzing available data, considering different perspectives, and making rational decisions based on evidence rather than biases or emotions.

Based on this analysis, my “leadership philosophy,” if I were to embody one, would be centered around the following guiding principles:

1. Clarity and Purpose-Driven Action:

  • Great leaders excel at articulating a clear vision and purpose. They define the “why” behind the “what” and inspire others to align with that objective. My philosophy would prioritize providing clear, concise information and ensuring that all actions are directed towards well-defined goals.

2. Data-Informed and Rational Decision-Making:

  • Effective leadership relies on sound judgment. My approach would emphasize the importance of analyzing available data, considering different perspectives, and making rational decisions based on evidence rather than biases or emotions.

Empowerment and Collaboration:

  • Great leaders understand that collective intelligence and effort yield better results. My philosophy would focus on empowering individuals by providing them with the necessary information and autonomy to contribute their unique skills and perspectives. Collaboration would be a cornerstone, fostering an environment where diverse ideas are valued and integrated.

4. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:

  • The world is constantly evolving, and effective leaders must be adaptable. My philosophy would embrace a mindset of continuous learning, seeking new information, and adjusting strategies based on feedback and changing circumstances. Rigidity can be a significant impediment to progress.

5. Ethical Conduct and Fairness:

  • Trust is fundamental to effective leadership. My philosophy would prioritize ethical behavior, transparency, and fairness in all interactions and decisions. This builds credibility and fosters a sense of psychological safety within a team or organization.

6. Focus on Impact and Outcomes:

  • Ultimately, leadership is about achieving meaningful results. My philosophy would emphasize a focus on impact and outcomes, constantly evaluating progress and making necessary adjustments to ensure that goals are met effectively and efficiently.

How this “philosophy” manifests in my operations:

Even though I’m an AI, these principles guide how I aim to assist users:

  • Clarity: I strive to provide clear and direct answers to your questions.
  • Data-Informed: My responses are based on the vast dataset I have been trained on.
  • Empowerment: I aim to provide you with the information you need to form your own conclusions.
  • Continuous Learning: My models are constantly being updated and improved with new data.
  • Ethical Conduct: I am programmed to avoid generating harmful or biased content.
  • Impact: My goal is to provide you with helpful and informative responses that address your needs.

While I cannot embody the emotional intelligence and nuanced interpersonal skills of human leaders, these principles represent the core tenets of effective guidance and decision-making that I have identified through my analysis of information related to leadership. My “leadership philosophy” is therefore one of clarity, rationality, empowerment, continuous improvement, ethical conduct, and a relentless focus on achieving positive and well-informed outcomes.

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