ABSTRACT
W E O F T E N A S S U M E T H A T in the workplace we can find inspiration, explore our inner self and gain a sense of fulfilment. However, not all organ - izations celebrate this kind of ‘enlightened’ leadership. In fact, an altogether harsher tone seems to be present in many workplaces. Direct force and ‘micromanagement’ continue to be woven into the fabric of the workplace. Aggressive and goal-focused behaviour continues to be rewarded and even expected from good leaders. The way we talk about our workplace is often replete with war metaphors. Given the continuing importance of military language, it should come as no surprise that not all leaders think of themselves in warm and nurturing terms. Some of the most well-worn clichés about leadership express quite a different reality. One example is ‘You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.’ This phrase is used to indicate that a leader should be willing to undertake violent, messy and sometimes unpopular action. It is no surprise that this cliché has been variously attributed to a range of great figures including the French Revolutionary leader Robespierre, the general Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Bolshevik leader Lenin (who used the Russian variation – when you cut down trees, wood-chips will fly).
