Contemporary Leaders: Power and Powerlessness

Discusses some aspects of power and powerlessness of contemporary leaders from four different areas of experiences: psychoanalysis,therapeutic communities, Tavistock conferences on group relations, and as a consultant in organisations. Some common trends of narcissism from these areas are seen and it is concluded that the importance for leaders to be able to combine rationality and emotionality, strength and weakness, and the male and female part in us – that is, to be complete human beings – is paramount.