If you were to peruse random blog sites about leadership styles, the current president would undoubtedly be mentioned. While most of it is likely unfavourable, some public commentators have applauded the incumbent president’s management approach and philosophy, arguing that his election was a necessary shake-up of American politics. So, what are some of the pros and cons of Trump’s leadership ethos and principles?

Cons

There are a plethora of problems attached to Donald Trump’s leadership mantra. His campaign ethos, “America first” succinctly embodies one of these core flaws – his inability to collaborate. He continually disagrees with other world leaders, theorists and other vocal subject matter experts. This has seen him pull the US out of the NATO agreement, withdraw from the World Health Organisation and initiate a trade war with China.

Furthermore, President Trump’s leadership has been widely criticised because of his inability to own unfortunate strategic mistakes made by his administration. He criticised former President Obama for overusing Executive Orders, before proceeding to use more executive orders in his first 100 days than any other president since World War II.

Pros

Despite his polarising nature and conduct, Trump’s most ardent followers would argue that the president’s leadership philosophy does have some strengths. Whether you agree with his vision or not, you can’t deny that he does have a visionary outlook for the United States. He wants millions of jobs for unemployed Americans, greater economic security and reduced reliance on foreign powers for trade. People know what he stands for, which is a testament to the way he has articulated his messaging.

Moreover, there’s no denying that he is authentic. Historically speaking, it’s almost impossible to get a straight answer out of a politician. With Trump, on the other hand, it’s easy. He says what he’s thinking, and his followers believe it.

Throughout its history, the United States has been involved in many conflicts, both domestic and abroad. As the world’s most powerful military force, it’s easy to see why US military leaders are held in such high regard in the historical record. Here are some of America’s most exceptional military leaders.

#1 George Patton (1885-1945)

George Patton was a General in the United States Army during the Second World War. He was in charge of the 7^th Army in the Mediterranean theatre of WWII and the 3^rd Army in France and Germany, following the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Patton polarised people during his life and his image continues to be a point of contention in contemporary circles. He was seen as hard-working, colourful and a brilliant military strategist tactician; however, his achievements were often overshadowed by his public comments and vulgar speeches.

#2 Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964)

Douglas MacArthur was a 5-star General and Field Marshall of the Philippine Army. He played a pivotal role in the Pacific campaign during World War II and received the Medal of Honour for his services in the early 1940s. His father, Arthur MacArthur Jr., also won the Medal of Honour in the early 1900s, making them the only father-son to be awarded the medal.

#3 Norman Schwarzkopf (1934-2012)

Norman Schwarzkopf was a United States Army General, who was responsible for planning and executing Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. He assumed command of the United States Central Command in 1988 and his force eventually grew to entail close to 750 000 troops (both American and international).

He was pivotal in the implementation of Operation Desert Storm, which included an extended air campaign and monstrous ground offensive in the early 1990s. The campaign was highly successful, and Schwarzkopf was subsequently awarded military honours.

3 biggest leadership failures in from world-renowned CEOs

Operating a global business is no easy feat. Even the smartest, most accomplished company and entrepreneurial minds can make mistakes. In fact, it is often these mistakes that define a CEO’s legacy, propelling them to make amends and take challenges on, or shy away from positions of leadership. Here are some of the worst leadership failures from famous business leaders.

Warren Anderson

Union Carbide is an American chemical company that has been operating since 1917. In December 1984, the Union Carbide facility in Bhopal, India had a catastrophic failure, in which methyl isocyanate (MIC) was accidentally released from the plant. The accidental leak caused 16 000 deaths (claimed) and at least 550 000 non-fatal injuries (around 40 000 people were permanently disabled).

The CEO of the company, Warren Anderson, flew to Bhopal to show his support and commitment. However, he soon left and never returned. He was charged with manslaughter at one point by Indian authorities; however, it resulted in nothing.

Kay Whitmore

Kay Whitemore was the CEO of Kodak, criticised for his lack of creative vision, strategic flaws and complacency. In 1990, Whitemore fell asleep in a meeting with Bill Gates, in which Gates was discussing the possibility of integrating Kodak’s products with Windows. Ironically, Kodak had developed the first digital camera in 1975; however, the technology was never taken seriously. Whitmore declined Gates’ offer, and a few short years later, digital was taking over, and Kodak was struggling.

Gerald Ratner

Gerald Ratner was the CEO and Chairman of the Ratners Group (now known as the Signet Group). He is known all over the corporate world for “that speech”, which has become a cautionary tale on the importance of brand marketing, maintaining reputation and CEOs choosing their words carefully. In the speech, Ratner playfully denigrated several items retailed by the business, claiming they were cheap because they were terrible quality. After the address, customers stayed way from Ratners’ products, which saw the value of the company plummet by 500 million pounds (and almost go bankrupt).