Digging Deeper into Leadership Models and Theories

Great Man Theory

Of all the social change models that we discussed in class, the one that sticks with me the most is the great man theory. Although we observed how the Great Man Theory is a little outdated and was more popular in the late 19th century, I believe that due to the simplicity and what what i believe to be correctness, the Great Man Theory makes the most sense. 

The Great Man Theory simply states that there are some people (we'll change it to people, not men) who are great, whether they were born great, inspired by divinity, or created with a combination of the right moment and the right man, it matters not. What matters is that these people are great, for one reason or another, and they use their greatness to change the world. This Theory substantiates it's claims with people such as Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and George Washington. 

While I cannot say that this theory relates to me because I am the next Alexander the great(namesake and all) I do believe this theory to be true for various reasons. I believe that the most important component to the GMT(Great Man Theory) is that these "Great People" overcome any obstacles in their way on the road to being great and changing their world. It is for this reason that CEOs from prominent families and Presidents from all but royal families do not concern me, those that concern my interest are the ones the come from nothing to be everything. People who allow nothing to get them down. 

In my own experience, this man was named Marvin, I met Marvin on an immersion experience my Junior year of Highschool. I participated in this program called "The Plunge" where students packed a sleeping bag and a coat and headed off to the local loaves and fishes to be homeless for 36 hours. Soup kitchen meals, cold, crowded showers, sleeping on a park bench, waiting in line for food, and horrible boredom, the Plunge was as close to being homeless as anyone with a home could be. But I digress, Marvin, that's where I want to go. Marvin was kind of like the local leader down there at Friendship Park, he knew all the names, broke up a couple of fights, and even gave away his own jacket to another homeless man. After sitting with Marvin and talking for a couple of hours (he called me on my homeless bluff in a matter of minutes) I was astounded by this man's accomplishments. He was a proud owner of a library card, claimed that he has read every book in the public library, a counselor for AA despite being clean and sober for over 10 years, actively attended hearings at City Hall, and was somewhat of a community organizer at the end of that street. While these things may seem like small accomplishments to most, for me they were the living proof that there are certain people in the world who simply are great, and nothing that life throws at them will ever change that fact nor prohibit them from impacting their world.

As far as the Social Change Model goes, I believe that it ties in very well with the GMT, while the Social Change Model focuses largely on empowering the common people, I believe that it does not disregard the need for leadership either. I believe that the Social Change Model merely calls for a leader who leads by example and embodies all the aspects of the Social Change Model. For me, this person is Corporal Jason Lee Dunham, a Marine who saved the life of his squadmates by deliberately covering a live grenade with his body.

  While this example may seem far fetched or out of the ordinary, I challenge anyone to find one of the seven traits that is not exemplified in Cpl. Dunham who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. I think an ideal society implementing the Social Change Model would function with someone who embodies similar traits in a pois