What is Leadership Triad?

Modern leadership theory recognizes that effective leadership is not simply a function of an individual leader’s charisma, vision or innate abilities. Rather, leadership emerges through a complex interplay between three key elements: the leader, the followers and the situational context. Research shows that successful leaders rely heavily on aligning their style and vision with the needs and values of followers, while adapting intelligently to cultural norms, organizational dynamics and other contextual factors. However, traditional heroic notions of leadership as embodied solely in individual “great men” persist. This outlook overlooks the relational, situational nature of effective leadership. A prime example that highlights the triadic nature of leadership can be seen in Ron Johnson’s experience shifting from Apple to JC Penney.

Take Ron Johnson’s experience for example. As Senior VP of Retail Operations, he spearheaded Apple's outrageously successful retail stores starting in 2000. Johnson's vision, innovation and meticulous attention to the customer experience were keys driving the Apple Store's meteoric rise. However, when Johnson left Apple to become JC Penney's CEO in 2011, he floundered. At JC Penney, a traditional Midwest department store chain, Johnson's bold ideas like eliminating discounts and coupons were rejected by loyal, bargain-focused customers. And instead of energized Apple fans, he now faced a demographic of middle-aged moms looking for deals. Clearly, the context and follower dynamics at JC Penney differed immensely from an Apple Store environment.

This example highlights how leadership relies on followers buying into the leader's vision, abilities, and style. It also illustrates how situational context shapes what leadership approaches resonate versus flounder. Effective leaders recognize they must align themselves with both follower needs and contextual factors. They adapt their style to differing cultural settings, organizational lifecycles, and team dynamics.

Examining leadership through this triad lens provides greater insight into why leadership thrives or falters in the real world. It illuminates the interdependencies between leader, followers and milieu. This perspective allows reimagining leadership, not as an individual pursuit, but as an adaptive, relational process. When we see leadership in this light, exciting possibilities open up for empowering all players and catalyzing positive change.

Adopting a triad view of leadership is imperative for modern organizations. This paradigm reminds us that leadership lives in connections, not just individuals. It calls on us to evaluate contextual fit and follower alignment, not just leader charisma. And it enables more collaborative, ethical and productive leadership by acknowledging the distributed, situated nature of leadership in action. The triad lens enriches our conception of leadership and opens up new pathways for leadership development and organizational success.