Why Kim Kardashian is an effective Leader
I really have been looking forward to the Leadership and Excellence module, and I have to say that with such an interesting start im sure it will live up to my expectations.
The first thing that struck me in class today, was Paul's distinction between an effective leader and a good leader. It was a point I had been hoping to address at some point during the module.
I knew that although Leadership has been largely celebrated and encouraged especially in the business and academic communities, it did infact have it's negative side. When a leader uses their power of influence to encourage people to perform atrocities or acts that may not necessarily be in their interests or the interests of a larger community, I often wondered whether they could or should be considered as Leadership role models.
Given Pauls answer today, I think the answer to that question should be yes. I think that people can learn from a bad leader who has been effective in his leadership. Citing the Hitler example, I read somewhere that when asked how he (Hitler) was able to so effectively convince his people to embrace Nazi Ideology, he laid emphasis on the power of consistent communication. I believe he said somehting along these lines:
"Put a man in a room and tell him something. Repeat it to him every day for 30 days. Then for another 30 days, ask him to repeat the words back to you, at the end of 60 days, you can convince a man of anything"
I find this insight to be remarkable. If used within the right context and for the right purposes, I think that Hitler's principles could certainly be very effective, after all, they worked for him. It is just most unfortunate that he chose to use his power and ability to cause so mych destruction.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, now that I understand the distinction between a good leader and an effective one. I can seperate intent or goals and result from leadership strategy, the vision from the principle behind it.
So, even though it pains me to say this. I will grudgingly have to agree that a lot of celebrities in the entertainment industries are in fact effective leaders (e.g Jay-Z and Kim Kardashian). I may not agree with the values or lifestyle that they are peddling, but I must admit that they have been able tosucessfully convince their target segment of the society to buy into their image and brands. Why else would so many young people be willing to pay obscene amounts of money for 'celebrity' endorsed clothing and other paraphernelia?
Oritseweyinmi Barber
30 Jan 2012 13:12
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[Skip to the latest comment]Abdul Iqbal
you ask why?
Because they are not thinkers!!!
haha…
but on a serious note, since you are mentioning about celebrities, i would take into consideration the efforts of Actor Leonardo DiCapri and his attempt to familiarize the world with the situation of endangered animals and also regarding the global climatic shifts we as human beings are causing around the world.
Then again, thinking back to what Paul said earlier, the distinction made it very clear to bring DiCaprio being a good leader in ways.
30 Jan 2012, 17:13
Mohammad Sandouk
I think an important attribute of a leader is to be leading ‘deliberately’ towards a pre-defined ‘goal’, and I don’t think many celebrities fulfil this criteria, for this I would say; they influence people, for sure, they might be a huge influence (some times to the extent of becoming idols) but leaders! that seems to be stretching it a bit.
30 Jan 2012, 18:45
Ilektra-Maria Kaldi
You mention that although leadership has been promoted by academia and businesses alike, it has a negative side. Actually, leadership, like quality, is neutral; leaders are those who might have a positive or negative aspect and thus, impact on the way they lead (i.e. leadership style).
That is why Hitler was an effective but not a good leader.
Therefore, I think that these two things, leaders and leadership, must not be used interchangeably, as most of us do, without realizing the distinction.
30 Jan 2012, 18:48
Oritseweyinmi Barber
You know Wassem, you would be amazed at how deliberately these celebrities craft and go out of their way to re-enforce the perceptions and image that people have of them. They often employ a team of professional Image Consultants, who carefully construct well laid plans on how to maintain their relevance in the public light. They do in fact, usually have a Pre-defined goal, as well as a target demographic. The business of fame is all a cleverly structured, well-oiled machine, with set goals and objectives. I read once that Jenifer Lopez spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, on maintaining her fake tan, it apparently is all part of her ‘in-your face ‘latina’ woman personality that she needs to sustain, in order for her to continue to earn millions of dollars annually off that persona.
30 Jan 2012, 18:56
Oritseweyinmi Barber
Ilektra, what I meant to express is the fact that there is a dark side to the science and art of leadership even though it is often portrayed in an overwhelmingly positive manner. Leadership ability can and is sometimes abused. I do understand your point though.
30 Jan 2012, 19:00
Pauline Mmbaga
I agree that some celebrity leaders are effective but not good. However, I question the practicality of finding a leader that is purely good and effective. Kim Kardashian may have influenced others by owning a family boutique and a perfume line, but also portrayed her image negatively with certain public humiliations. Nevertheless, she also helps out with charities and community work which still depict her as a good individual. And as fans, we tend to be biased as we choose which factors to take into consideration when making decisions to purchase these celebrities merchandises. Leadership is rather complicated and cannot self-exist as a topic without looking at followers and their criteria and influences as well.
30 Jan 2012, 19:30
Oritseweyinmi Barber
Pauline, you have made a fantastic point i hadn’t considered up to this point. Indeed, it would be difficult to define a person as a leader if they did not have followers. That begs the question about the criteria like you said and indeed the standards the followers sometimes set for themselves in deciding whom they choose to accept as a leader. I think that would make for another fascinating blog post as well as an intense classroom discussion : )
30 Jan 2012, 20:07
Daniella Badu
My dear friends, I just need some clarification: is it possible to be a good leader yet not very effective or a good leader is definitely an effective leader?
31 Jan 2012, 21:45
Vanitchaya Kittipaisalsilp
For the point of Hitler, this is completely true that he was an effective leader but not a good one. The reason why most of people generally obey him was not about a true willingness to do so but because of the fear and respect. Honestly, i do think that one of the most important factor in order to create an efficient power of leadership is a safe learning environment that everyone are encouraged to think, learn and share together. They can learn by one another which results in an improvement and a better change.
01 Feb 2012, 01:53
Pinthida Thanatipanont
Hi Mimi,
First of all, I love your title – very indeed eye-catching :)
Now to the point of effective vs good leaders – i think we should also make a distinction between leadership and leader – people who might not be in the position to directly lead can possess very good leadership skills. and leaders or may I say, people who have gained/ imposed acceptance from others, might not necessary have very effective leadership skills.
sometimes I think we place so much emphasis on “LEADING” that we overlook other sides of leadership such as being an efficient listener, being able to intermediate between parties, extracting the qualities from people in your team, creating a safe, non-threatening environment, and having the guts to follow what is best in the overall interest and stand up to take responsibility for whatever the outcome may be.
Often leaders are so wrapped up in themselves that they forget everyone else around them. Many leaders are reluctant to take responsibilities for the outcome, especially if it was not a result from their DIRECT action.
In Kim’s case, I’m not really sure if she is actually LEADING or is she being led to portray certain images to fit into a certain society and sell some portducts. Surely, there are pressure for her to for example, be filmed on reality show almost all the time. This doesn’t look like she has much freedom, nor is she given much the opportunity to “lead”???
01 Feb 2012, 01:53
Oghenetega Inoni
In trying to answer Danielle’s question, i had to consult the English dictionary at least to understand what good and effective really meant as single words.. ...
Good means to be desired or approved of or a favorable character or tendency.
Effective means to be Successful in producing a desired or intended result or Producing a strong impression or response.
So i would say it is possible to be a good leader that is one who is liked or approved by his followers but but that doesn’t make him an effective leader in terms of being successful in producing results or making a lasting impression on his followers.
I am sure there are loads of leaders who are good but not effective as well as having lots of effective leaders who are not good.
01 Feb 2012, 16:33
Oritseweyinmi Barber
Pinn, I think I get you. Some celebrities are ‘leaders’ in a sense, but they may not necessarily have very good leadership skills, and yet they are in a position where they are widely accepted by people, and are able to influence their thoughts and actions. In essence, based on the definition of leadership, they are leaders, but I guess it would be fair to say that although they may be quite effective leaders, they are not always ‘good’ leaders, because they influence groups of people in ways that are sometimes questionable. That’s a good angle : )
01 Feb 2012, 19:46
Tariq Pathan
What about a leader who doesnt instruct like the stereotypical leader (e.g. Hitler/Churchill/President of xyz)? Could you be a leader if you influenced direction of a group or an individual without directly instructing them or telling them what to do? (Thinking along the lines of someone like an advisor, someone who could change your direction of thinking or actions for their own end goals).
05 Feb 2012, 21:27
Ramiz Ahmed
Even I agree that Hitler was an effective leader but a bad one for sure. This is the greatest example of ‘following the leader merely due to fear’. Hitler used to punish those who disobey him which made the majority to follow him. This certainly did not mean that they all agree to him. Here my point is that an effective leader is the one to who people follow blindly, your opinion or thoughts are not required at all.
Celebrities already have an edge over normal people. They use their popularity to be effective leaders which in other way provide profits to themselves solely for example launching a clothing brand etc. I believe Princess Diana to be an extremely effective and good leader in her life as she promoted positivity, love and concern for the people who need it the most and now we can see numerous people following her footsteps may they be known people or unknown. This was not an enforced leadership it was more of an inspirational one :)
05 Feb 2012, 21:31
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