At its Highest Vibrational Frequency: From Disempowering to Affirmational Leadership

Abstract

Leadership is a complex phenomenon and has been researched
extensively.The leadership literature focuses on the traits, styles, and
behaviors of leaders, but the question which is being asked in this research
remains generally unanswered. This research intends to explore; what is
good leadership and what is bad leadership? Data was collected using a
semi structured interview protocol from purposively selected sixteen
respondents mainly working in educational organizations at different
levels both heads and subordinates in UK and Pakistan. Most subordinates
who were interviewed described their leaders as disempowering and nonconsultative. Based on the findings and understanding which we got from
this research, a rainbow leadership model has been proposed, using
rainbow colours as a metaphor for leadership strength, covering the roles
and behaviours of the leaders on a spectrum of effective/good leadership
and ineffective/bad leadership. An effective violet leader with a high level
of energy and frequency is affirmational to individuals’ abilities and
confidence and capable of empowering staff to support each other in
transforming themselves. On the other end of continuum is an ineffective
leader who is disempowering and may demotivate and destroy individuals
and increase the turnover of good staff.