Rowley Associates

Background

How self-aware are you? Self-awareness is a critical component of leadership. It affects the impact you have on others, your ability to read those around you, and whether you see opportunities as a threat or a challenge. 

To help our clients become more self-aware we often ask them to diagnose the leadership style of other famous, or infamous, leaders. The idea being we see things in others before we see them in ourselves and, using another leaders achievements, temperament, background and approach provides a mirror with which to diagnose own style – warts and all.

Try it yourself. Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with Aung San Suu’s achievements, personality, strengths and vulnerabilities and then use this information to diagnose her leadership style. You will have chance to compare your insights with ours at the end of the ‘analysis’.

If you want to take the exercise a step-further take our leadership diagnostic to compare yourself with some of the best in the business or call or email us for a free consult.

On The Couch

Imagine this. Because of a deeply held belief you have been imprisoned in your own home for 14 of the past 20 years. You can’t see your children or have visitors unless agreed by your jailors.  This has been the experience of Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Awng San Su Chee), who has been under house arrest in Myanmar (Burma) for over 14-years because of her outspoken beliefs about democracy and freedom. She has won the Nobel Peace prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought. She also won a democratically held election to be Myanmar’s Prime Minister but the results were nullified and the military refused to hand over power. Despite her confinement San Suu remains a symbol of hope and freedom both to her people and others around the world living under similar regimes.

San Suu was born in 1945. Her father a General in the Burmese army, was a respected war hero, her mother was a senior staff nurse, and an active member of a political group known as the Women’s Freedom League (1). Together they worked for a unified Burma including the emancipation of women. In her book about Suu, Bettina Ling concludes that from her father she learned to be deeply devoted to the good of her country even if it meant risking harm or death. From her mother she learned courage and forgiveness. A hallmark of San Suu’s life has been loss, of freedom, of her father who was assassinated when she was 2-years old, of her brother who died in a drowning accident and her husband who died in the US whilst she was under house arrest in Myanmar. Despite these experiences San Suu remains positive, her faith, Buddhism, providing a wellspring of hope against what could have been an inexorable slide into bitterness and misery.

San Suu was educated in Myanmar, before continuing her studies in India and Oxford, England. Her first job was at the United Nations.

Her political career was a baptism of fire. On returning to nurse her ailing mother she found her country in chaos. The military junta had slaughtered over 10,000 demonstrators and San Suu became the face of the democracy movement in her country. Within months she was placed under house arrest for the first time. Her most famous speech is the ‘Freedom of Fear’ speech, which starts, “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” (2)

She has been described as a ‘freedom’ fighter’, a charismatic communicator of strong convictions, and a leader who refuses to be intimidated and who has sacrificed her freedom and her family for the good of her country.

Your diagnosis – questions to consider:

• How does Aung San Suu’s leadership style compare to yours? How might she be like you? How are you different?
• San Suu’s beliefs drive her ‘brand’. Are you aware of how your beliefs drive yours? (If not check out this exercise)
• San Suu has very strong, very clear convictions – what are your convictions? How far are you prepared to go to protect them?
• Could you follow a leader like San Suu?

Our Diagnosis of Aung San Suu’s Leadership Style

Diagnosing Aung San Suu’s leadership style using our model of conviction and connection identifies her as an extreme C2 Leader, with exceptionally high conviction and extraordinary connection skills (3). Using our leadership diagnostic she would score very highly on items such as ‘talks about her most important values and beliefs’, ‘demonstrates a sense of power and competence through communication’, ‘is willing to stand up for her ideas even if they are unpopular’, and ‘shows persistence and tenacity in the face of adversity or resistance’.

Looking at San Suu’s style in more detail her leadership behavior can be defined as Guide: Advise – Teach: The behaviors represented by this style stress self-confidence and support. These leaders appear strong, but their power and confidence are used in a more affiliative way - they are more likely to use ‘expert’ or ‘referent’ power than rely on the authority inherent in their role. These people are often popular – they attempt to get along well with, and to provoke respect from others. They have clear boundaries and are unlikely to compromise their beliefs or convictions in the face of conflict or disagreements. These leaders are good coaches and see developing their people as a key part of their role. This leadership style inspires respect, and liking from others.

References

(1)    Ling, B. (1998). ‘Standing up for Democracy’. New York: Feminist press, p 112

(2)    Aung San Suu Kyi (2009). Answers.com

(3)    Rowley, A. R. (2007). ‘Leadership Therapy: Inside the Mind of Microsoft’. New York: Palgrave: MacMillan, 243p