Theory II: The Pleasant-Image Leader

(Please keep in mind: there's not a grain of truth to any WHACK-O Theory!)

Centuries ago, a leader was to look fearsome, engendering fear and awe in the subject.  Then, the Chinese developed the wise-man leader, a sort-of Buddha who acts.  He had to be old, even senile-looking.  This leader image was followed by the warrior-king, a stately individual, inspiring worship, as if annointed by God Himself. Think of the Egyptian Pharohs.

In modern times, the leader was conceived of as a manipulator, a Jimmy Cagney type, who spoke gruffly. He inspired confidence that he knew what he was doing.  You could trust him, if he were on your side.  This type dominated Congressional halls for many years in the early 20th Century .

But, corporate America changed its image of the leader, or CEO.  He became debonaire and needed the last name that should be totally innocuous, such as Smith or Jones.  I think of Senator Edwards, as the embodiment of this look.  Indeed, he could appear in any man's magazine as a model, e.g., GQ.  And there's plenty of Congressmen who fit the image and have the personality that goes with it today.

Now, with women's lib, you're seeing women, indeed pleasant-to-look upon, in the corporate ranks, rising to become presidents of companies, even.  Some of these are moving on to politics, seeking the rank of Congressional senators. It is likely that more and more women will become politicians and corporate executives, because they are really pleasant to look upon.

What's next?  I predict the present trend toward embracing persons with pleasant personalities and good looks to rise as leaders will continue.  I predict that women in the field of leadership both in industry and politics will take hold even will dominate.  I predict that these female leaders will become younger and younger in age, since it is more pleasant to gaze upon youthful, say, twenty-year old girls, than women in their sixties, who have undergone several operations to make them look younger.

If it comes to a point where most leaders in corporate America and political circles are younger than 30, I think you'll see greater reliance on older persons behind the scenes to manipulate them--for our good, of course.  Personally, I'd like to see the day spoken of in the Bible, when "a children shall lead them!"