Eisenhower’s heroic transformation: the transition of heroic leadership to managerial leadership philosophies from the late-19th century through World War II

Abstract

Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower’s style of leadership and mentality transformed from a heroic leadership philosophy to a managerial leadership philosophy before the United States’ entry into World War II in 1941. From the late-nineteenth century through World War II, the US Army underwent the same transformation. The US Army’s shifting focus from heroic to managerial leadership enabled Eisenhower to gain additional administrative education to enhance his managerial skills. Exploring Eisenhower’s military career provides a window to investigate the transformation of officer professionalism that was occurring in the early twentieth century. He interacted with leaders still firmly planted in “heroic-age leadership,” but he was also mentored by those that accepted or even promoted the “managerial” concept of leadership. The Army’s concurrent use of distinct styles of leadership, during a time of transformation, is not unlike the concept of “paradigm shift” used by Thomas Kuhn. New ideas do not merely displace old ideas; instead, the two can exist simultaneously with one another. The term “heroic” includes the concepts of fraternal, seniority-based organization, and deference to tradition as well as an individual piece which includes traits such as courage, valor, and personal image. On the other hand, the term “managerial” challenges traditional notions of the military, focuses on innovative solutions to military problems, and favors bureaucratization. Eisenhower is an excellent example to illustrate the way in which the US Army moved from a focus on heroic leadership toward managerial leadership. That Eisenhower was able to hone his administrative skills at army schools, such as the Army War College, illustrates that the Army began focusing on the science of leadership over the art of war.