Leadership, as we imagine it, is a myth. A construct so polished, so unattainable, it has become a chain around our collective necks.
For centuries, we’ve wrapped leadership in a hero’s cloak, draped in the stories of men whose exploits towered over the human scale. Alexander. Napoleon. Rockefeller. Jobs. But what are these names if not myths we’ve retold until they became gospel?
We’ve been sold an idea that leadership means power without weakness, action without hesitation, vision without failure. But this myth isn’t just false—it’s poisonous.
We pretend leaders must be superhuman, and in doing so, we erase the possibility of their humanity. Vulnerability, doubt, and mistakes—the very soil from which authentic leadership grows—are plucked out, leaving only the sterile expectation of perfection. A leader must have all the answers. A leader must never stumble. A leader must be infallible. Who can live under such a shadow?
This myth is not neutral. It is born of centuries of exclusion, fed by the systems of white male privilege that have defined what “greatness” looks like. For too long, leadership has been synonymous with dominance: a lone white man at the helm, steering history with sheer force. His charisma is mistaken for wisdom. His privilege is mistaken for talent. His failures are hidden under the carpets of a system that only allows heroic gestures.
And yet, this myth persists. It seduces us with its simplicity. It asks us to believe that one person alone can carry the weight of transformation. But leadership has never been a solo act. It is woven from relationships, shaped by collective effort, and grounded in imperfection.
Not only we deny leaders (we all are leaders and followers at the same time) the space to be wholeheartedly human but, even worse, we exclude those whose voices might reshape leadership altogether: the women, the marginalized, the thinkers who don’t fit the corporate mold.
Leadership is not a gift; it’s a practice. It’s not a crown; it’s a relationship.
We can refuse to idolize the mythical “great man” and look instead to the messy, collective, human process of being in uncertainty together. It’s time we all became leaders. It’s time we evoke leadership in everyone as I like to say it!
If we don’t, we’ll remain trapped, waiting for someone who doesn’t exist to save us. But if we do, we’ll find that the leaders we need are already here: imperfect, human, and ready to create spaces for leading/following together, spaces for creative laboratories for leadership.
The myth of unattainable leadership does not have a singular origin but rather emerged from a combination of cultural, historical, and societal factors over time. Early civilizations, such as those in ancient Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia, celebrated heroic leaders like Achilles, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar. These figures were often mythologized as possessing superhuman qualities, blending facts with fiction. Religious texts and traditions have often idealized leaders as divinely chosen or endowed with wisdom and moral superiority. During the medieval and early modern periods, monarchs were portrayed as ordained by God, reinforcing the notion of their infallibility and greatness. In the 19th century, historians like Thomas Carlyle popularized the “Great Man Theory,” arguing that history is shaped by extraordinary individuals with innate leadership qualities. This view downplayed the role of broader societal factors or collective effort. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the rise of mass media and celebrity culture further amplified the idealization of leaders, from politicians like Winston Churchill to CEOs like Steve Jobs, portraying them as singularly responsible for success.
The myth is thus a product of centuries of storytelling, religious doctrine, historical theory, and modern media, all of which have contributed to an unrealistic and enduring image of leadership.
For much of Western history, leadership roles in politics, business, and religion were almost exclusively held by white men due to colonial, patriarchal, and Eurocentric systems of power. These systems perpetuated the idea that leadership was the domain of elite, privileged men, creating a narrow and exclusionary model of leadership.
In the modern era, corporate and political leadership has been dominated by white men, reinforcing the stereotype that successful leaders must adhere to traits traditionally associated with masculinity, such as assertiveness, dominance, and individualism. Leadership myths have been amplified by media, which historically focused on white male figures as symbols of power and success, from U.S. presidents to business icons.
This emphasis sidelined diverse stories of leadership, reinforcing the idea that white male leadership was the standard.
Structural racism and sexism have historically denied access to leadership positions for marginalized groups, making the myth of leadership as unattainable more entrenched. Even when individuals from these groups achieve leadership, they are often held to a higher standard or scrutinized more harshly.
If you, like me, are walking the path to renew not only our definition of leadership but also how we embody it, please consider watching my TEDx talk on Poetry and the Professions of the Future and buy a copy of The Poetry of Leadership.
This poem is for you, is for us!
LeaderYou will never know till you stand upThere is enough space within youSpace to contain the multitudesStand upSpeak upSay noNo to fragmentationNo to moving fasterSlow downKnow your multitudesLearn what moves inside and outside themTurn towards the truthStand upSpeak upThe Whisper saidI want to talk business in rhyme
(As presented at TEDx Lugano September 2017)I invite you to embody a leadership presence that is grounded in compassion, care, collaboration, and courage.
If you are looking for developing a leadership capable of fostering organisational and individual flourishment have a look at our program Artful Leadership and all other Artful Programs.
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