Leadership Analysis: Dead Poet's Society

Leadership Analysis: Dead Poet’s Society

Leadership is defined as the ability to guide, direct or influence people, but it is much more than that. There are many ways to merely guide or direct. A leader is someone whose personality helps them to guide a group of people in a direction they believe is desirable. People want to follow the leader, but they are perfectly free not to. A leader guides people by the infectious nature of their vision. Leadership and authority are not the same thing. The key difference lies in the source of power. If a person has the ability lead a group to perform a certain act than that person is an authoritarian. They may also be a leader but being in charge does not make one a leader. There are many traits that must be present for a person to be a good leader and most of them require the leader to be wholly committed to his position. People can sense authenticity and want to be led by a real person. Leadership requires a reciprocal relationship and creating the relationship cannot be forged by the use of power. The two distinct methods of authority displayed in the film illustrate the manner in which individuals react to each and the consequences of the methods. Mr. Keating’s leadership approach creates a strong bond with the students and empowers them to be successful. In Keating’s classroom, the students are pushed to think for themselves. Keating’s words and actions lead the students to feel a personal connection to him and a sense of trust. “Trust is the natural reciprocation of concern, respect, understanding and fairness.” Leadership involves building a team identity and gives the group attainable goals and at the same time the leader holds them to high expectations. The Welton academy is filled with attention-channeling systems; systems of rewards, such as acceptance in to the Ivy League, and punishments, such as expulsion or paddling, which are intended to push the students and uphold the esteemed status of the