Great Man Theory is a social theory first popularized in the nineteenth century that examines how society has transformed and evolved based on the accomplishments of select individuals, or great persons (North, 2015). Often these individuals hold positions of leadership, as this allows them to have the most influence; Great Man Theory would therefore posit that certain individuals who rise to these ranks do so by exhibiting extraordinary talents or skill, and then lead a nation or organization by employing a vision that causes significant social change. In this regard, social change does not necessarily refer to humanitarian or even positive change, as perceptions of an individual’s impact on history may differ depending on different perspectives throughout society. Nevertheless, the impact of certain individuals throughout history have undoubtedly changed the course of society, and Great Man Theory posits that the greatest amounts of change occur when events are directed by those with extraordinary vision and talent.
Several examples of historical persons that were often discussed during the nineteenth century are Napoleon, Muhammad, Martin Luther, and Shakespeare (North, 2015). Napoleon was significant for his ability to assume command over the French people in a time when they had just undergone a dramatic political revolution. Through military conquest, Napoleon’s actions had an enduring effect on how modern Europe would eventually be shaped. Similarly, Muhammad and Martin Luther are significant because they each established a new religion: Muhammad founded Islam, which is one the world’s most practiced religions today, and Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and created Protestantism, which is perhaps the most influential religious philosophy in regard to modern western values. Had these individuals never existed, the world today would be undoubtedly very different. Great Man Theory demonstrates how these individuals shaped humanity, and although most great persons have leadership positions, this is not always the case: Shakespeare, for instance, is also considered to have transformed literature and how we perceive and understand the art of storytelling.
However, Great Man Theory does have some negative connotations: although great persons often transform society, there are those who might not perceive all transformations for the better. Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun, for instance, would also be considered great persons because their military conquests changed the course of history. Yet both men are notable for their brutality, and therefore it can become disconcerting to consider them to be great or heroic. There is also the theory that proposes that great persons are more a reflection of their current society, rather than responsible for determining how societies are shaped (Hoffman et al., 2011). While this is most likely true, it is also undeniable that certain individuals have indeed transformed society. In regard to whether they should be considered great or not, this is more of an issue of semantics: perhaps a more appropriate concept would be something akin to transformative theory, as the word ‘great’ constitutes a positive value. If these instances are not examined in regard to the ethics of the individual, and rather in regard to their achievements, the theory would be inherently less controversial.
When we look at modern innovators and business leaders in connection with Great Man Theory, several individuals come to mind. Nikola Tesla can be considered one of the most influential inventors who ever lived, as his work with electricity and alternating current is responsible for the foundation of all devices that rely on electricity for power. Similarly, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity fundamentally changed the way we perceived physics and our understanding of the universe. Most recently, however, Steve Jobs is perhaps one of the most recent business leaders who would qualify as a great individual. Jobs is notable not for his extraordinary technical skills, as much of Apple’s early success was based on the engineering capabilities of his co-founder, Steve Wozniak. However, Jobs had extraordinary vision; although his first tenure at Apple saw success in the proliferation of home computing, his return to the company in the 1990s was accompanied with a singular vision of mobile technology (Heracleous and Klaering, 2014).
The iPod revolutionized how we access and listen to music, and in doing so, transformed the music industry; however, the iPhone grew beyond the iPod’s capabilities and changed how society communicates and accesses information. Although other mobile manufacturers exist, they have evolved to be competitors of the iPhone and emerged as a reaction to the iPhone once its popularity and functionality became undeniable. The idea of a pocket computer, which is essentially what an iPhone is, that can go online and access incalculable amounts of information, while also allowing us to text or even video conference with people from around the globe instantly has had a profound impact on how society functions on a daily basis.
When we examine Great Man Theory from a leadership perspective, we can begin to see how talent or skill alone is not enough to truly transform society; rather, having a clear vision of what one wants to achieve and the absolute dedication toward the pursuit of that vision is what leads to greatness. For any modern business leader, the main lesson that can be learned is that having a vision is what can transform society, even if this vision is not readily understood by others at the time. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, was laughed at when he came up with the idea of an online book store; Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, the founders of Netflix, were rejected by the video chain Blockbuster when they initially proposed a partnership (Schoemaker and Krupp, 2015). Yet these individuals remained committed to their vision of transforming their respective industries, and thus, society has changed as a result.
