The Feathered Headgear: Leadership as an Institution

We have been conditioned to think of politicians when the term, ‘leader’ pops up in a speech or a text. However, in its simplest form, it means, ‘someone who leads’. It can be a Union leader, a Religious leader, Military commander or an Institutional head. Throughout the history and some of the fictional literatures inspired by history, leaders have been divided in two categories, a benevolent leader and a despotic leader. The former receives appreciation but the latter receives condemnation, even after they have passed away. But even a despotic leader has his cult of followers. As a teen, growing up with cable television network installed at home, I had the opportunity to watch Spiderman, there was a line, it goes like this, ‘…with great power comes great responsibility.” Time and again, history has proven the mark of true leadership is having a clear vision. This means, a leader should be a visionary. The one who can calculate the moves and the outcome from the means implied even before the battle has began. 

I grew listening to the stories of valour and honour displayed by the men of our land in defending one’s life, property and liberty. It was not about an individual showcasing such feats but as a team as a collective effort least the sacrifice made by one gets subdued in course of time. Thus, it shaped my understanding of leadership, for me, leadership does not mean a person who leads and make his followers win battles under his command, although this adds credit to the ability of the person in charge. A person who acts as the collective conscience of the people has been appreciated as a good leader but such acts require enormous amount of sacrifice. Sometimes, the bargaining chips are not worth the deal and sometimes the deal is better left unsettled and true leadership needs wisdom to choose the best possible option available considering all the consequences which might follow. 

In the context of Nagaland, if the youngsters were asked, who is/was their favourite leader from the state? Then, most of them will either pick up one of the politicians or a nationalist worker, past or present, dead or living. Although the fact remains, leadership does not confine itself only to the political sphere. Sometimes, fixating the role of leadership only to the people in power, leads to a narrower understanding of leadership, which in a way undermines the role of various people who were/are impeccable in their works. 

Leadership as an institution

In this section, I would like to argue about leadership as an institution and not an acquired skill or behaviour of a person. Institution is a set of rules, norms or laws that has been established over time and which draws its legitimacy from the people who obey and pay reverence to it. When we consider leadership as an institution, we are acknowledging the importance of the institution and negating from shifting the blame of failed governance from an individual to an institution. It makes sense, as by the end of the day, leadership is a collective effort springing from either a linear or a non linear power structure. 

Leadership as an institution recognises a systematic nature; it is not just about a charismatic individual, but a collective capacity and set of practices that are deeply integrated into the fabric of an organization. Institutional leadership is fundamentally about establishing, protecting, and promoting the core values, character, and mission of the institution. It defines, ‘who we are’ and ‘what we stand for’. 

How Leadership Becomes an Institution 

Cultural reinforcement is one of the reasons, as culture evolves to reinforce and sustain the desired leadership behaviours and norms. Also the role of visionary leaders cannot be ignored, for they articulate a clear purpose and set the foundation and actively create and infuse core values into the organization’s structure. Thus, “leadership as an institution” signifies that leadership is not just an individual attribute but a fundamental and enduring aspect of an organization’s design, culture, and operation, ensuring its sustained effectiveness and purpose. 

Through storytelling and shared experiences, a collective narrative and identity are developed, reinforcing the institution’s purpose and values. Additionally, behaviours and practices shape the expected behaviours, norms, and practices within the organization, fostering a culture that supports effective leadership at all levels. The institution becomes a social learning system where the knowledge, wisdom, and leadership approaches are passed down and evolved.