Introduction
Shakespear’s Macbeth showed that he was a capable leader at the beginning of the play, but later on, he became overly authoritative. Due to this initial success, he gained respect and received rewards. However, over time, he allowed external pressures to alter both his goal and level of authority, mainly in his relationships with his wife and the witches. Although Macbeth possesses some of the qualities of a good leader, he chooses an authoritative style which makes him an inefficient leader.
Macbeth’s Leadership
Shakespeare produced numerous tragedies to depict the struggles and triumphs of humanity, and Macbeth, the main character of the play, most exemplifies these truths as the reader is guided through his immoral road to overthrow King Duncan and ascend to the throne. The first time that Macbeth is mentioned, a captain calls him a military hero who killed Macdonwald: “for valiant Macbeth… with his brandished steel and unseamed from the nave to the chops” (Shakespear, 24). Macbeth nearly loses the war, but thanks to his desire, he gains the upper hand and leads his army to victory.
In the end, it becomes clear that Macbeth is a remarkable leader who is successful due to his determination to lead these people, not just because he is a nobleman but also because of his allegiance to King Duncan. The reader can understand that Macbeth is a hero; moreover, he is a trustworthy and obedient leader (“Ambition and Power in Macbeth”). After the fight, King Duncan gives Macbeth the new title of “Thane of Cawdor” and declares, “what noble Macbeth hath gained, what Thane of Cawdor hath lost” (Shakespear, 67). Through his sincere efforts, Macbeth has now gained the king’s respect and a new title, putting him one step closer to securing the throne.
Macbeth was transforming into a leader who craved authority, as one can understand from Acts 2 through 4. For example, he killed Banquo and sought to assassinate Fleance in order to maintain his position as king (Skaespear 60). By Act 5, he was beginning to lose control, and he was becoming helpless. Thus, Macbeth was a decent leader at first, with qualities that could allow them to excel in his leadership endeavors. However, his desire to secure authority and power over others affected his leadership qualities negatively.
Being in charge preoccupied Macbeth more than really demonstrating the traits of a great leader. Self-awareness and leadership are qualities that a leader should possess. Thus, a leader is expected to set a good example and make wise choices—qualities Macbeth lacked. His actions only served to traumatize the nation further and brought about his demise. Macbeth lacked the genuine attributes of a leader as his primary focus was on securing the title and power.
Leadership Styles
The theory of leadership has been developing over the last several years, and scholars and practitioners distinguish several styles of leading others. There are several categories of how a leader acts when in charge of a group, which are authoritarian, participatory, and delegative under Lewin’s theory (*Cherry). Autocratic or authoritarian leaders provide precise guidelines for what must be done, when it must be done, and how it should be done. This form of leadership places a great emphasis on both the leader’s authority and the followers’ subordination (Cherry). The leader and the members are clearly separated from one another. Therefore, authoritarian leaders make choices without consulting the rest of the group.
Democratic leadership, also referred to as participatory leadership, is often the most effective type of leadership. Democratic leaders provide advice to group members, but they also engage with the group and welcome feedback from other participants. Lewin discovered that of the three groups, the children in delegative leadership were the least productive (as cited in Cherry). Additionally, the participants in this group were less cooperative, placed more expectations on the leader, and were unable to work on their own.
An effective leader is a person who can adjust their approach based on the situation, goals, and the people they work with. Mainly, some followers work most efficiently under the guidance of authoritative leaders because they need clear instructions and guidance (Cherry). For more creative work, there is a need to allow the employees to have freedom, which is why an authoritative approach would not be efficient. In this case, there is a need for a leader to use the skillset that transformative leaders possess.
Apart from the ability to choose a leadership style, an effective leader has to possess certain skills. Good leaders demonstrate bravery, passion, confidence, dedication, and ambition in addition to offering direction, inspiration, and leadership (Cherry). They develop their employees’ abilities and talents and form teams that are dedicated to attaining shared objectives. For example, a leader with vision is aware of their goals, their strategy, and their definition of success. They can passionately and clearly express their vision to the team, making sure they comprehend how their individual efforts contribute to more overarching objectives (Cherry). Next, setting the correct examples is the best approach for a leader to establish credibility and people’s respect. They must show their followers how to behave by doing it themselves. If a leader has high expectations for their team, they should be prepared to have similar expectations for themselves. Building trust and increasing the team’s willingness to emulate the leader will both come from having the leader’s words and actions match.
Leaders with integrity base their actions, interactions, and decisions on their principles. They are admired for being sincere, ethical, principled, and consistent, and they have strong views about what is right and wrong (Cherry). They are morally upright, keep their word, and interact with people in an honest, straightforward, and open manner. Their followers will show their loyalty, confidence, and respect for the leader ou if the latter consistently operates with honesty. Next, one of the most important leadership skills is the capacity for clear, succinct, and diplomatic communication (Cherry). There is more to communication than merely paying attention to what people are saying and responding properly. It also entails exchanging useful information, posing insightful queries, seeking feedback and innovative ideas, resolving misconceptions, and being very clear about the objectives (Cherry). The finest managers also use communication to enthuse and motivate their teams.
Making quick, challenging judgments with little knowledge is essential for good leadership. When faced with a difficult choice, leaders must decide what they want to accomplish first. One of the most potent traits of motivating leaders is their frequent and regular expression of gratitude for accomplishment. People need to feel respected and acknowledged in order to challenge themselves and put out their best efforts (Cherry; Eastwood). The appraisal will raise the followers’ spirits and make them more driven to keep doing their finest work. Great leaders are aware that in order for employees to give their all, they must have a feeling of ownership over their job and a sense of significance in what they accomplish. Allow the team a clear understanding of the objectives and due dates, and give them the freedom and power to select how the task will be completed.
The most effective leaders inspire, motivate, and inspire their people with passion. Leaders must spend time getting to know the individuals they manage so they can identify their talents, needs, and priorities (“What are the Characteristics”). This will assist them in understanding how to encourage them the most effectively while also making them feel important (Eastwood). Remind them frequently of the impact of their work, and support the growth of their potential by setting challenging but worthwhile objectives.
When viewing Macbeth as a leader, one can argue that he was not an effective leader. Mainly, at the beginning of this play, he displays some qualities that are essential for a leader.
However, in Act 5, Macbeth begins to crave more power and authority instead of thinking about what is best for his people. As a result, he ignored the well-being of the people who followed him and wanted to murder individuals who could take power from him.
Conclusion
In summary, Macbeth’s thirst for control over others badly impacted his leadership abilities. The audience can recognize Macbeth as a hero, particularly as a reliable and submissive leader. He is successful not only because he is a thane but also because of his loyalty to King Duncan and his resolve to lead these people. Lewin’s leadership categories are authoritarian, participative, and delegative. Authoritarian leaders seldom consult the group while making decisions. Democratic leaders interact with the crowd and value participant input. A visionary leader is aware of their objectives, plan of action, and definition of success. Towards the end of the play, Macbeth demonstrated only the qualities of an authoritarian leader, making his actions ineffective.
Works Cited
“Ambition and Power in Macbeth.” BBC.
Cherry, Kendra. “Leadership Styles and Frameworks You Should Know.” VeryWell Mind, 2023.
Eastwood, Brian. “The 5 Qualities All Successful Leaders Have in Common.” Northeastern University.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
“What Are the Characteristics of a Good Leader?” Center for Creative Leadership.