Page 69 - Harnessing the Strengths

52 ■ Servant-Leadership in the Intercultural Practice

Transformational
(1,10) Power corrupts leadership (10,10)

Degree of authority shoulders of giants
Standing on the

(5,5)
Transactional
leadership

(10,1)
Leadership challenged
Degree of participation
Figure 5.3 Degree of authority versus degree of participation

pative leadership can lead and which variations thereof are
possible.
On the vertical axis, the leader’s authority is shown.
In its most extreme, the consequence is a power trip. As
Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute
power corrupts absolutely.” On the horizontal axis is the
3
level of participation. Taken to the extreme, allowing for
the involvement of others can result in a leadership crisis
because the authority is disputed by those who are supposed
to be led by the leader. It can end in chaos and rebellion, as
those who were being led take the lead. This actually took
place when the Pilgrim Fathers, on their way to the New
World, mutinied against the captain while still at sea.
Between random and failed leadership, there is the
transactional leader, a typical case of compromise. Trans-
actional leaders see life as a large transaction, a simple con-
ducting of business. The transactional leader is tolerated
because he or she ensures the paycheck, and the employee