Developing tomorrow's leaders: why their worldviews of today matter?

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the worldviews of leaders and their corresponding leadership styles. It also proposes a leadership development framework integrating training strategies and pertinent leadership skills.

The paper proposes a modeling of seven leader types and illustrates the predominant worldview of each leader type. Separately, a modeling of six distinct leadership skills is used to distil the strengths and weaknesses of each leader type, from which specific training implications are discussed.

First, autocratic and bureaucratic leaders tend to adopt a negative worldview which impinges on their level of power and influence. Second, charismatic and visionary leaders are well‐equipped with instrumental and creative imagination skills, reflecting their collaborative, global and transformative worldview. Third, both enabling and servant leaders display a quieter persona in terms of assertiveness, as they believe action speaks louder than words. They are highly consultative and participatory in their management approach.

CEOs and HRD professionals may now be able to assess their leaders' worldviews and match these with their leadership styles to design appropriate training programs for leadership development. A number of practical suggestions presented in this paper will provide pointers for training implementation.

The value of this paper lies in examining the root of a leader's attitude and behavior, that is, to focus on his/her worldview. The author's point of view is that a strategic leadership development program should first allow leaders to experience a variety of worldviews through simulation and other techniques, which will in turn influence the way they think and act.