Griffith's Leadership In The Movie Berserk

When I think of strong group leadership, the first person or character that comes to mind is Griffith of the animated fantasy film series, Berserk. In most real or fictitious contexts, he is one of the strongest examples of leadership through personal power; power that “stems from a member’s individual character, competencies, and earned status” (Engleberg and Wynn 105). Griffith is the leader of the Band of the Hawk, a small army of mercenaries well-known on the battlefield. They’ve been hired by the King of Midland to capture the Fortress of Doldrey much to the ire of the Generals of Midland. However, the Midland army has already attempted this and suffered many casualties. It is important to note that Griffith, unlike many military leaders of his time, did not come from a royal family. From the start of this movie, Griffith already receives much respect from his soldiers. The respect he receives from his peers stems from his accomplishments on the battlefield. He displays the qualities of a leader with personal power; his charismatic power being most effective on

“In cultures with low power distance, power distinctions are minimized. Supervisors work with subordinates; professors work with students…” (Engleberg and Wynn 84). In typical medieval armies, the General would stand behind the front lines and command his army, but in the Band of the Hawk, Griffith leads full-frontal assaults. When the army establishes a camp, Griffith’s tent is setup alongside his men. If there is need for a change in strategy, Griffith always welcomes input from other soldiers. This low power distance is a big reason why Guts, the main captain under Griffith, came to respect him so much. For a very long time, Guts was a lone mercenary traveling from one battle to the next collecting his pay. When he and Griffith met they clashed, but after battling through various trials together, Guts came to respect