What Makes A Leader And The Focused Leader By Daniel Goleman

Whether in a team, school, workplace, or even a government, great leaders are difficult to come by. Nevertheless, the impact that a great leader can have on others is immense. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the idea of leadership is of great significance. The protagonist Macbeth seeks to ascend to the throne of Scotland, and through some twisted means, he eventually does. Despite prophecies made by the Three Witches that foretell his invulnerability, Macbeth’s flawed character shines through and his impending doom is met. Turning to outside sources, the articles “What Makes a Leader” and “The Focused Leader” by Daniel Goleman describe the impact that certain traits have on leadership, and unfortunately for Macbeth, he does not possess any of them.

According to “What Makes a Leader” by Daniel Goleman, empathy is a key factor in determining who is a good leader and who is not. Golman asserts that leaders who are empathetic “...will do more than sympathize with people around them…”, and will use their knowledge to improve those around them”(9). Macbeth fails to both sympathize with others and use his knowledge to help others as he shuts everyone else out and focuses solely on his self-preservation. The first instance of diminishing empathy in Macbeth was the murder of Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have an extensive conversation beforehand in which Macbeth expresses his concerns, but Macbeth is ultimately led by a bloody dagger to the room in which Duncan is sleeping. Afterwards, he emerges and states, “I have done the deed” (Shakespeare 2.1.14). By describing his murder so matter-of-factly, Macbeth dispels the notion that he is able to feel any empathy towards the king, or other people in general. Empathy is a necessary trait for all leaders, and instead of using it to rise to power, Macbeth has a willingness to murder in cold blood

“The Focused Leader” states that, “Leaders with a strong outward focus…can sense the far-flung consequences of local decisions and imagine how the choices they make today will play out in the future” (Goleman 17). Macbeth is clearly incapable of anticipating the consequences of his actions as illustrated by his response to Macduff’s approaching army. The Three Witches’ prediction that Birnam Wood would rise up against him came true, as a force of 10,000 men concealed by branches taken from the forest was rapidly approaching Macbeth’s castle. While it is apparent that Macbeth and his kinsmen are facing their end, he decides to stand his ground and fight. One of his adversaries reports that, “Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies./Some say he’s mad. Others that lesser hate him/Do call it valiant fury. But for certain,/He cannot buckle his distempered cause/Within the belt of rule” (Shakespeare 5.2.12-16). Macbeth is made out to be insane for attempting to stand up Macduff’s army, and it is evident that he is only concerned with his own self-preservation; unable to understand the implications of facing an army far more fierce than his own. Macbeth’s lack of focus on the wider world was the nail in his own coffin, as if he had simply taken the time to understand who he was preparing to fight, the subsequent events could have played out