Che Guevara's Characteristics Of Transformational Leadership

Superior Essays
Che Guevara had the confidence that communism would save the disadvantaged people of Latin America in the Cuban Revolution in 1956-1959, and continued to be a guerrilla leader in South America. Since his execution by the Bolivian army in 1967, he has been considered a legendary political figure and an icon of radicalism and anti-imperialism because he exemplifies the core characteristics of what it takes to be a leader (Besancenot, Lowy, & Membrez). According to Warren Bennis, an American scholar who is regarded as the pioneer of the contemporary field of leadership, the core characteristics of what it takes to be a leader are guiding vision, passion, integrity, curiosity, and being daring. Guevara is an example of Bennis’ core characteristics …show more content…
The characteristics of transformational leadership are creativity, interactive, visionary, empowering and passionate, which has been identified by many researchers (Hackman & Johnson, pg. 103). Guevara was considered creative as well as visionary because he challenged the status quo by seeking out new ideas, products, and ways of performing tasks (Blanch & Media). After Guevara witnessed widespread poverty and oppression in South and Central America, intertwined with his interest in Marxism, he came to the conclusion that the only solution to South and Central America’s problems was an armed war (History.com). He wanted to remove the social injustices from society and believed it would happen through a socialist society. This embodiment of the characteristics of creativity and visionary to create change and difference for people demonstrated how Guevara exemplified the characteristic of creativity as a transformational leader as well as being interactive. As a leader Guevara described revolution as “not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall” (Guevara). This direct quote from Guevara proves he was an interactive leader who believes in order to create change you need to make it happen. This shows Guevara s a transformational leader because “Transformational leaders are masterful communicators able to articulate and define ideas …show more content…
Guevara stated, “Remember the revolution is what is important, and each one of us, alone, is worth nothing” (Guevara). Guevara was able to create a relationship with and influence the people of Cuba that in order to create change they needed to band together behind his organizational objectives. This demonstrates how Guevara’s elements of leadership – leader-follower relationship, influence, organizational objectives, change, and people – go hand-in-hand with Bennis’ ideology of transformational leadership. Guevara was able to form an army of 3,000 members and lead them to defeat 30,000 professional army men of the Batista government, which alone shows how Guevara was a successful leader. Guevara is an important leader to learn from because he created the industrialization and the change of face of the Cuban Revolution. He defined the change he wanted to see in South and Central American and created a revolution for people to follow, which displays why Che Guevara was a successful transformational

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Caesar Rodney is on the back the Delaware quarter in the middle of his famous ride, yet not very many people know anything about him. This shows that he was very passionate about something, which could have been anywhere from the Delaware militia to early politics. Therefore, Caesar Rodney was a marvelous leader because he had great political ideas, military positions, and was extremely passionate for his causes. First off, Caesar Rodney did amazing things in politics, so he was able to become a great political leader. Illustrating a point, “Rodney was elected to the 1783-84 session of the Delaware Legislative Council, and in respect for his leadership, the Council elected him Speaker,” (Caesar Rodney Institute).…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Chapter 22 Apush Essay

    • 2882 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Chapter 22 MRQ#1 When and where did communism exercise influence during the twentieth century? Originated from Karl Marx and Marxism; Karl Marx predicted communism to take place in industrial societies, not rural/ peasant areas Represented final stage of development of equality and collective living w/out private property Vietnam was a major struggle; nationalistic, violent roots and communism from ho chi Minh spilled into Laos and Cambodia Fidel Castro led rev. nationalist movement in Latin Am.…

    • 2882 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    There are tons of indispensable qualities of being a leader with a lot of people. People demonstrate these qualities by helping others in harsh conditions and starting a movement that will help change things to become better. People such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman have both played a role against slavery in society. Harriet Tubman was a strong leader who did not give up to accomplish a goal. In Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad it states “Harriet had found it hard to leave the warmth and friendliness, too.…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Use this as the template for your paper 2 ½ -3 pages Title: Hasta La Victoria Siempre! Background: (can split into the various topics) Early Life: I was born on June 14 1928 in Rosario, Argentina. My family was a middle class family, however we lived an aristocratic lifestyle.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mwindo Vs Sundiata Essay

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What makes a good leader? is it the power he owns or the value he upholds? Sundiata, an epic from old Mali, describes the journey of a hero named Sogolon Djata as he overcame several trials using his ethics, and ultimately became one of the greatest rulers of Mali. Mwindo, on the other hand, is the tale of a powerful child who became a hero by fighting his father and liberating his people. Although both Sundiata and Mwindo share similarities in that they both faced several trials, they differ in the way they responded to these trials because Mwindo responded with power while Sundiata responded with values.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cesar Chavez Ambition

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Chavez’s ambition was worth it because he was able to make a change and help people. Guevara and Lee’s ambitions were not worth it because Guevara never got his ideal society and Lee lost his war. Cesar Chavez’s ambition was well worth the price in the…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Synthesis Essay – Cesar Chavez MSgt Michael R. Chacon Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy Cesar Chavez When you hear the phrase “Hope and change” who comes to mind? What about “It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?” Finally, who do you think of when you hear “Si Se Puede?” Spanish for “Yes, it can be done,” the phrase is attributed to the Visionary and Ethical Leader, Cesar Chavez. Through his transformational leadership and inspirational motivation, Cesar led a movement across the United States to bring about social change for migrant farm workers in California.…

    • 1503 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Something that makes a leader is seen in all of us. Leadership skills don’t only consist on how courageous or strong you are. Being a leader is more about your commitment, passion, and trustworthiness. Leaders have been seen all over the era of slavery by many slave abolitionists that have put their mind to something and changed America as we know it. People like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and President Lincoln have all took the liberty of trying to make America a better place and after many hardships we have finally achieved a goal.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Imperialism of Latin America throughout History Latin America has constantly been colonized or influenced by outside entities since the new world was discovered in the sixteenth century. Subsequently, these outside influences have constantly shaped Latin America into a part of the world that continuously benefits a small number of elites, and foreign interests. While the average Latin American citizen does not gain any advantage from outside influence, they are constantly fighting for a voice of change and future autonomy. Latin America has a large socio-economic problem that is instigated by the constant involvement of foreign countries. This problem can be directly traced to the sixteenth century when the Spanish and Portuguese colonized…

    • 1118 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Cesar Chavez Dbq

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages

    He was very persistence throughout the journey. Clearly Cesar Chavez was an extremely effective leader and actually made a difference to the Farm worker’s lives. And because of him Mexican Americans have a better working life. We need more people like him to make equality for all…

    • 334 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The viewpoints of both Thomas Paine and Che Guevara had some common principles. Both men left their own countries to join in Revolutions in other countries. Paine left Britain to join the French Revolution as well as take part in the United States Revolution. Likewise, Guevara left Argentina, to join the Cuban Revolution. Both Revolutionists wanted to overthrow systems of government to transform the type of government, however, they had different views on the governmental changes to take place after the Revolution.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Transformational leaders motivate their followers to achieve high performance levels, improve morale and help their follower to become leaders themselves. According to (Riggio, 2009), there are four major components involved in transformational leadership: 1. Idealized Influence - The leader serves as an ideal role model for followers. 2. Inspirational Motivation - Transformational leaders have the ability to inspire and motivate followers.…

    • 1544 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout history, leadership has always played a huge role in determining a countries success. By having an influential leader, citizens of a nation are able to thrive in more than one way. Leadership allows growth, prosperity, organization, and control within a certain city, state, region, or country. In most countries, leadership is presented in the form of government. That is, an organization which has the governing authority or ruling power over the society, usually in the form of a political unit.…

    • 1692 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Student’s Name Course Instructor Date Leadership Reflection Essay I find the book Leadership a very short introduction written by Keith Grint to be informative as it gives a better understanding on leadership which is one of the most talked about topics today. This is as a result of diversified definitions and beliefs about leadership. The book helps readers to focus more on what leadership is, how leadership is different from management, whether leaders are born or made, who leaders are and if people actually need leaders.…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are a lot of details that go into being a great transformational leader that are necessary to dissect in this paper, yet the approach is about guiding and empowering the follower. With the knowledge I have gained by studying this approach I can apply it to my life in so many ways. I do not have children at this time but when I do I can rely on this approach to help me be not only a great role model but also just as important a transformational leader that is able to take them and make them all that they can be. Also I am involved…

    • 1507 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays