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Application of leadership theories to Mahatma Gandhi leadership

Introduction
Despite the existence of different forms of leadership definitions, leadership can be defined
simply as the process of influencing or motivating followers to achieve a given goals more
efficiently and effectively. In other words, a person must have the ability to influence and
motivate members to attain a given goals and vision so as to be a leader. There are several
leadership theories that have been applied to describe leaders in different fields, organizations
and society, in general. The leadership theories include the great man theory, trait theory,
behavioral theories (role theory and the managerial grid) and Lewin's and Likert's participative
leadership theory. Also, it includes Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory, House's
path-goal theory of leadership and contingency theories. On top of that, there are Leader-
Member Exchange (LMX) Theory, Bass' and Burns' transformational leadership theory and
transactional leadership theory (Chin, 2010, p.150).

The essay discusses the application of leadership theories to Mahatma Gandhi leadership in
India. Mahatma Gandhi was India's spiritual and political leader that led the country to
independence from the British colonialists. In the context of the leadership theories, Gandhi
exhibited participative, servant and transformational leadership styles (Gandhi and Desai, 2009,
p.87).

Thesis statement: Mahatma Gandhi was a participative, servant and transformational leader as
per the leadership theories. Despite having participative, servant and transformational leadership
style, Gandhi exhibited situational leadership style.

Background of Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership

The leadership of Mahatma Gandhi began from his refusal to move to third class coach in a train
at Pietermaritzburg yet he was holding a first class ticket. It occurred while practicing as
advocate in South Africa to leading the Indians using the non-violent resistance.

Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma (Great Soul) and Bapu
(father) led his Indian countrymen to fight against the British Empire colonialism without using
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any arms and ammunition. Instead, he led them to fight the British colonialism using his
principles of non-violence and truth (DeRue, Nahrgang, Wellman and Humphrey, 2011, p.45).

Despite being a Hindu by birth, Gandhi believed in spirituality by stating that he was a Christian,
Hindu and Jew making him the greatest political and spiritual leader of India. He studied law at
University College of London, England and qualified as a Barrister. Furthermore, Gandhi
applied and followed 11 guiding principles and vows namely: Sparshbhavna (removal of
untouchability), Swadeshi (using only locally manufactured commodities), Sarva Dharma
Samantva (providing religion equality to all), Sarvatra Bhayavarjana (fearlessness). The other
guiding principles and vows are Aswada (the palate control), Sharirshrama (bread labor),
Aparigraha (non-possession), Brahmacharya (self-discipline), Asteya (non-stealing), Satya
(truth) and the Ahimsa (non-violence) (Gardner, 2011, p.96).

Leadership theories and models related to Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership styles

According to the Great Man theory, leaders are born and not made while the Trait Theory
stipulates that some people are born with the personality of becoming leaders in the future. Also,
the Behaviorist Theory claims that leaders are made and not born via the process of learning and
development, coaching, nurturing and mentoring. Likewise, the situational leadership theory
proposes that leaders decide the course of their actions depending on the situation at hand (Eagly
& Chin, 2010, p.216).

According to the leadership theories, Mahatma Gandhi exhibited a combination of participative,

servant and transformational leadership styles. As earlier pointed out, the participative, servant
and transformational leadership theories and models will be discussed in depth in this essay in
relation to Gandhi’s leadership styles. Mahatma Gandhi was a real Indian leader that led by
example, planned and performed his leadership duties to achieve the vision and goal of
emancipating India from the chains of British colonialism by motivating his followers.
According to Schiller (2013, p.17), Gandhi stated “you can chain me, you can torture me, you
can even destroy this body but you will never imprison my mind.” Leadership styles can either
be leader-centered or follower-centered. However, Gandhi applied the follower-centered
leadership styles to achieve the independence of India and fight for their rights via development,
growth and realization of his followers. He treated his followers as the most significant in his
quest for a liberated India. Also, he addressed his followers equally without favor and involved
them in his decision-making process. Therefore, Gandhi’s participative, transformational and
servant leadership styles were follower-centered leadership styles (Nohria, Khurana & Anand,
2010, p.78).

According to the transformational leadership theory, the transformational leader inspires the
followers to achieve a shared goal and vision because they energy and passion in everything they
execute. Additionally, they transform the followers and lead by example via their actions and
attitudes (Deats, 2010, p.46).
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Gandhi was real to his transformational leadership style because instead of calling it quits, he
faced severe and new challenges. Clearly, Gandhi exhibited transformational leadership style as
he was goal-oriented, encouraged intellectual development, motivated and inspired his followers
(Northouse, 2010, p.69).

The Bass and Burns’ transformational leadership theory claims that a transformational leader
inspires and activates the followers and subordinates to achieve target goals by committing
themselves to a given course.

The transformational leadership style of Gandhi involved bringing significant changes in India
and among the Indians. He made a difference in the lives of the Indians by changing their
perspectives and created a revolutionary change in their minds. Also he pioneered the Satyagraha
(the resistance to British oppression via mass civil disobedience) and the ahimsa (total non-
violence) to inspire is followers to freedom and civil rights and to help India gain independence
(Schyns, Kiefer, Kerschreiter & Tymon, 2011, p.400).

The transformational leadership of Gandhi influenced his followers as he instilled admiration,

respect, trust, and loyalty amongst them via the nonviolent protests leading to a change in their
heart, mind, clarified purposes, enlarged vision and firm beliefs, values and principles (Schyns &
Schilling, 2011,p.143).

Beyond doubt, Mahatma Gandhi was a transformational leader that exhibited all the features of
Bass and Burns’ transformational leadership theory. He focused and followed on the ideal eleven
guiding principles and vows to lead the Indians. Gandhi practiced all the elements of a
transformational leader namely: inspirational motivation, individualized consideration,
intellectual stimulation and idealized influence (Oforchukwu, 2011, p.98).

In terms of inspirational motivation, the quest for human rights and freedom was a challenging
goal for his peers, party, and followers. However, Gandhi was able to empower and inspire the
followers to pursue and accept challenging missions and targets. He inspired them via his
principles and non-violent protests leading to occasional imprisonment. In the end, the
transformational leadership style paid off because India finally attained independence (swaraj).

Regarding individualized consideration, Gandhi provided support and encouragement for

communicating his personal respect for the followers. Studies indicate that he spoke to everyone
in order to know what was happening to them by being too interactive. The above mad his
followers to feel important, thus help to champion for his goals and values.

On intellectual stimulation, Gandhi held meetings and talks with his followers to discuss issues
affecting them and importance of his vision and goal to fight for the independence of India
(Finkelstein, Hambrick & Cannella, 2009, p.98).
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Finally, in terms of idealized influence, Gandhi aroused strong identification and emotions
among the followers by making self-sacrifices, setting example of dedication and courage to
benefit his supporters. Gandhi preached about truth and love via non-cooperation and satyagraha
(non-violence resistance movements).

In a nutshell, he attended to the individual needs of his followers by addressing their concerns
and mentoring them, respected individual contributions of he followers and supported them
unconditionally and motivated them accomplishing their responsibilities of fighting using
peaceful and non-violent means for their rights and independence (Winkler, 2010,p.95).

He was able to motivate his followers to achieve the desired goals of attaining India’s
independence from the British colonialists through his transformational leadership style
(Palestini, 2009, p.59).

According to the servant leadership theory, the servant leaders base their leadership on strong
ideals and values. Notwithstanding, the servant leaders put care of their followers as the priority
instead of their care. It implies that the servant leader takes care of his followers’ needs and
provides a good environment that allows the followers to reach their best performance and full
potential. The servant leaders involve the followers in his decision-making and operational
processes by respecting, motivating, serving and mentoring a positive attitude in them. Likewise,
the servant leader treats his followers as equals and think of them as partners. At times, the
servant leader assumes the role of his follower when a situation forces it.

Dierendonck and Patterson (2010, p.35), claim that a servant-leader must be a servant first. It
means that the servant-leadership emanates from the natural feeling of a leader to lead followed
by his conscious choice to lead. According to Cornelissen, Misra and Varma (2011, p.239),
Gandhi stated that, “service to the poor has been my heart’s desire and it has always thrown me
amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them.” Gandhi served as an example
and a catalyst to inspire hope and vision among the Indians via dedicating his life to the
pursuance of a better life and preaching non-violence. For example, he empowered his followers
to march to the sea and make salt. Also, the servant leader is chosen by the people like the case
of Gandhi.

The people gave him a farewell party when he was returning to India from South Africa. The
people had seen his servant leadership when he questioned and fought against the retrogressive
bill that sought to take away franchise from the Indians in South Africa. It was the
commencement of his mission and servant leadership to serve humanity (Waite & Waite, 2008,
p.131). Also, Gandhi swore an allegiance to speak the truth at all times and advocated his
followers to do the same. He had altruism as he was willing to make sacrifices by putting the
needs of the followers ahead of his. For example, he went on hunger strike march to the sea.
Moreover, he was humble, avoided special privileges and status symbols. For example, he wore
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khadi, respected colleagues, followers and people from different creed and castes (Gandhi, 2014,
p.126).

It can be said his desire to adhere to his principles and vows and serve as a servant leader began
when he was practicing as a barrister in South Africa upon completion of his law degree abroad.
Therefore, his servant leadership began when decided to serve humanity, fight for the unfair bill
and equal treatment of his Indians brothers and sisters in South Africa and finally fight for the
freedom of India from the hands of British colonialism (Gandhi, 2012, p.67).

According to the participative leadership theory, the participative leaders rely on the feedback,
abilities and knowledge of the entire followers. They accept and involve input from followers
during problem-solving and decision-making processes. Since they comprehend that they are not
very effective and accurate, they engage their followers in order to make accurate and effective
decisions, thus the followers are motivated and encouraged. Furthermore, the leaders that exhibit
the participative leadership style are not only driven by follower development, but also by goal
attainment (Bischoff, 2010, p.103).

The participative leadership theory manifests itself in Gandhi’s leadership styles. First of all, he
involved the whole team of followers in goal setting, planning a problem-solving and team
building to fight for independence using the non-violent and truth principles. Secondly, he
involved his subordinates, peers and followers in decision-making rather than deciding
autocratically. He applied the above leadership theory run the Congress party effectively by
making sure that the Congress members were included in the day to day decision making and
activities of the party to suit all the members of the political situation in India was frequently
changing and dynamic.

On the other hand, Gandhi exhibited situational leadership style. For example, he wore suits and
neckties to launch his protests against the British and Boers in South Africa and wore the Khadi
(Indian self-made clothing) to launch non-violent protests in India (Bertocci, 2009, p.98).

Conclusion

Therefore, the transformational leadership theory, servant leadership theory and participative
leadership theory are relevant in describing leadership styles of Mahatma Gandhi. His
relationship with the followers is classified as being follower-centric. In accordance with, the
leadership theories, Gandhi was focused on his followers and he made sure that they were part of
his goal and vision of fighting the rights of Indians and freedom of India from the British
Empire. Mahatma Gandhi was an example of a leader that practiced transformational leadership
style because he inspired his countrymen to fight for independence.
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