Learning From the Leadership Styles of Alexander the Great

I recently finished Partha Bose's, Alexander Thebattles. He would call these people by name. He
Great's Art of Strategy. In my humble opinion it'sknew the names of many of his solders. He knew
a must read for anyone who is interested intheir accomplishments on the field of battle. He
developing any type of successful strategy be itprovided inspiration and confidence because he
for business or how to win at the game of love.knew they where trained well he trained with
Well maybe not the game of love. But hopefullythem as a young man and he fought side by side
you get my drift. I particularly enjoyed thewith many of them.
chapter I just finished, Seven Distinct LeadershipAlexander fully understood what his men could
Styles. As I read this I was struck by the level ofand couldn't do and it was a short list of what his
clarity and succinctness Mr. Bose laid out howarmy couldn't do. Some of our modern day
Alexander use each of the seven leadershipleaders could learn something from this. By
styles which are:connecting with their employees, acknowledging
some of their accomplishments can go a long
1. Trusting Leadership Styleway toward getting them to put in that extra
2. Inspirational Styleeffort when needed. For those who would argue
3. Connective Stylethat the company size or the fact there company
4. Aggressive Styleis global and it's impossible to know the names or
5. Humanistic Styleaccomplishments of everyone are missing the
6. Commanding Stylepoint. Alexander called out those he recognized.
7. Marauding StyleThe troops standing around them became inspired
I'm going to go out a limb and say that manyby the fact their commander thought enough of
who consider themselves leaders would havetheir brother-in-arms to call him out they felt as if
difficulty in determining if they have a leadershipAlexander was talking directly to them as well.
style. Let alone even if they have one that isAlexander the Great was and extraordinary
recognizable in any meaningful way. I'm won'tperson. He was a brilliant tactician and strategist.
spend a lot of time going through each of theHe benefited from having the best of teachers
styles, I will save that for future blogs. But let'sand had a keen intellect. He was able to connect
consider one that anyone considering a leadershipwith his troops and get them to perform amazing
role could stand to learn how to implement Thefeats on the battlefield.
Connective Style. Prior to going into battleWe can all learn from his connective style of
Alexander would ride up and down the front ofleadership, the question is do we want to. Paying
his troop formation and call out to familiar facesattention to what people accomplish can go a long
and extol them on their bravery in previousway in getting them the do more.