Answer

Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Leader Description/Bio (what they did/do that makes us call them a leader)

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, born in 1925 and died in 2013, was the British Stateswoman who served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom between 1979 and 1990. According to Mullen (2020), she became the longest serving British prime minister in 20th century as well as the first woman to hold that office. She was called iron lady as a result of her uncompromising leadership style and politics.

Leadership Style/Approach (how they lead – use terminology from the course)

Margaret Hilda Thatcher’s leadership style was autocratic. It is important to note that autocratic leadership is a management style in which one person controls all the decisions and takes little opinion from others or group members.  These kinds of leaders make decisions or choices based on their beliefs and rarely involve other people for suggestions or pieces of advice. In its simple meaning, “it was her way or the highway!”  Thatcher demonstrated an example of autocratic leadership when during the miner’s strike that took place in 1984 (Mullen, 2020)). Instead of collaborating or bowing to the pressure of workers, she introduced a legislation that reduced the powers of unions.  It is important to note that she was also a good listener particularly on critical issues such as war where she accommodated opinions of high ranking individuals.  As a leader, she recognized that she alone had bore the responsibility of her decisions and understood it meant being loved and hated for it.

Analysis of Leadership (your thoughts on their leadership styles with rationale)

The key lessons I have learned from her style of leading is a paradoxical one; leaders needs to be unbendable yet flexible. While she is criticized of being an autocratic leader, she became the longest serving British prime minister (Cloarec, 2018).  It is in this regard that although I do not agree with autocratic type of leadership, leaders need to have courage in their convictions. Similarly, leaders must avoid the trap of believing that they are always right. I agree with how she ruled since as much as she made several decisions by herself, she involved key people in some decision-making, especially in critical matters such as wars.