Donald Trump is one of the most remarkable participants of the presidential race. His decision to run for the presidency stirred all the mass media sources and caused numerous public debates. Whatever one’s attitude towards Donald Trump’s views is, it is undoubted that this candidate possesses exceptional leadership traits that help him hold the attention of both the Americans and the world press.
Trump’s approach is built on a combination of contradicting qualities. For example, the businessman is known for making eccentric public statements that disagree with the common opinion. His rhetoric is highly straightforward, abrasive, at times, and often cynic. Thus, on the face of it, he might appear to be extravagant and quick-tempered. In the meantime, the scope of his business achievements proves otherwise. This unordinary combination helps Trump gain success.
His leadership style is, likewise, changeable. Broadly speaking, Trump might be referred to as a persuasive style due to his inborn capacity to “sell” ideas and inspire society (Sadler, 2003). However, it can be assumed that the businessman’s persuasive power is mainly determined by the inborn charisma. Therefore, charisma plays a significant role in his leadership strategy – it is evident that the man is aware of possessing this quality and uses it to the full. Pulitzer Prize–winning historian James MacGregor Burns has once noted that charismatic leaders are particularly good at combining different leadership styles as they account for their charm in taking risks (Burns, 2012).
Therefore, Trump’s approach is based on a skillful combination of different leadership strategies and their adaptation by the circumstances. His style was best summarized by a journalist, Sarah Caldicott (2015) that claimed that his leader’s policy “represents a mood rather than a movement” (para. 3.).
Reference List
Burns, J.M.G. (2012). Leadership. London: Open Road Media.
Caldicott, S.M. (2015). Debating Donald Trump’s radical leadership style: innovator or narcissist? Forbes. Web.
Sadler, P. (2003). Leadership. London: Kogan Page Publishers.