Authoritative Leadership Vs. Collaborative Leadership

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” (Helen Keller). Working alone can only get you so far, but with more minds being put together, there’s more opportunity for ideas. A group of people can get more done efficiently than alone. Working together is more effective than working alone because you can get stronger and better ideas. Authoritative leadership is less effective than collaborative leadership because fear and power create anarchy and dissent, while respect and decency create a harmonious society. This claim can be supported by Macbeth, Machiavelli, Crace, and Plato.

Firstly, authoritative leadership is less effective than collaborative leadership because anarchy is created through fear and power. In the

When Macbeth becomes King, and realizes that his kingship means nothing; he decides to just act without a thought. In Macbeth it says, “From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand.” (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 146 - 148). Macbeth says that he will no longer think before he acts. He is no longer going to think about the rights or wrongs, or what’s best for the people who he leads. Conversely, a leader should have an element of rational thought before they act, in order to lead effectively. In The Republic it says, “...the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one...cities will never have rest from their evils…” (Plato). Plato is saying that a king must be smart when he is leading and have good philosophies that will be good for the people. A leader can not just act without philosophy or evil will never be rid from his country. A leader must think first with good philosophy and then act in good nature for the benefit of the

This way of leading is faulty and not effective because under an authoritative leader usually does not praise people for their hard work. In Macbeth it says, “To give thee from our royal master thanks...And, for an earnest of a greater honor, he bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: in which addition, hail, most worthy thane, for it is thine.” (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 101 - 107). King Duncan is rewarding Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor for Macbeth’s great service to the king. King Duncan praises his people for their good deeds and even rewards them. Similarly, employees work better after getting praise from their boss. They feel proud in their work and want to work harder for their boss. In the article on parenting and managing it says, “Managers play a big role in helping to make their employees feel empowered, confident and self-reliant by the positive feedback they provide.” (Crace). Employees become more confident in their work and their determination to do better. As a result, people do better work for others when they are praised and given promotions and