Leadership lessons through the lens of historical military leaders: A pedagogical approach to teaching leadership theories and concepts in a Masters of Public Administration course

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the value of applying the lessons of successful historical battlefield commanders to teach leadership concepts and theories. This article uses the experience of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armee at the Battle of Austerlitz to illustrate these concepts. Utilizing Napoleon’s success in this battle as a framework, this essay employs a causal model of leadership to analyze and expound on leadership concepts that can benefit graduate students in Masters of Public Administration (MPA) programs. The leadership causal model emphasizes both descriptive and prescriptive aspects of leadership theory. The implications of this essay are that it provides a theoretical framework in public and non-profit sectors and therefore is an appropriate pedagogical strategy for teaching these concepts in undergraduate and graduate public administration courses. Moreover, the framework allows students to identify the best leadership and management practices in public and non-profit organizations.