- Symbols of leadership
Leadership cadres use symbols to reinforce their position power and provide a level of differentiation.Clothing frequently articulates rank or privilege, but accessories and external entities of varying functionality may also serve to mark out leaders - fromfinger ring s to personal aircraft.Presidential symbols
Presidential symbols comprise various insignia or other devices to denote a president's position. Some symbols follow accepted constitutional or diplomatic standards:
flag s,sash es, entrance Marches or amedallion ornecklace . The use of the symbols mostly occurs for domestic purposes.Examples of such symbols include the American presidential march "
Hail to the Chief ", and thepresidential sash es worn by the presidents ofLatin America nations. More practical, semi-symbolic features also abound: bodyguards may lurk semi-overtly; a head of state may use a special aircraft (see for exampleAir Force One ).European presidents sometimes dress archaically for formal occasions. Such special clothing sets them apart - and may well militate against women aspiring to such high office when tradition expects them to wear (say)
knee-breeches Fact|date=February 2007.Royal/Imperial symbols
Ruling dynasties often exploit pomp and ceremony with the use of
regalia : crowns,robe s,orb and sceptre s, some of which are reflections of formerly practical objects. The use of language mechanisms also support this differentiation with subjects talking of "the crown" and/or of "thethrone " rather than referring directly to personal names.Monarch ies provide the most explicit demonstration of tools to strengthen the elevation of leaders. Thrones sit high ondais es leading to subjects lifting their gaze (if they have permission) to contemplate the ruler. Architecture in general can set leaders apart: note the symbolism inherent in the very name of the Chinese imperialForbidden City .The culture and legends around the ruling family may build on myths of divine-right and describe the ruler or the
Son of Heaven Fact|date=February 2007.Court ceremonial highlights symbolic distance between a royal/imperial leader and follower, in a hierarchical system which cultivates a social system and power network around the monarch. Bowing and
curtsey ing remain as examples of the self-abasement ofhand-kissing , bowing and scraping,prostration ,kowtow ing and "proskynesis " formerly demanded.Sometimes
color plays a special role in advertising monarchical status: thus the once very rare purple/crimson dye became a symbol reserved for imperial clothing - see purple.Archaic touches often symbolically recall a glorious historical past: thus horse-drawn
carriage s replace everyday motor-vehicles for royal state occasions, andcourtier s and flunkeys in elaborate dress grant a sense of ancient distance. And monarchs emphasize the remaining traces of theirdivine right to rule when undergoing anointing at the hands of the Church during coronation ceremonies.ocio-political leadership symbols
Overlapping with and/or emulating royalty, a
ruling class or anaristocracy can devote much of its energy into "keeping up appearances" and emphasizing the purity of noble blood by apartness. Symbolism can aid this process cheaply. Acoat-of-arms (perhaps in the form of a banner or on note-paper) or the wearing of asword can incur less expense than maintaining astately home . The visible presence ofservant s or slaves reminds underlings ofsocial distance .Patronage , especially offashion , provides one of the most symbolic attributes of social leaders or would-be leaders. Compareconspicuous consumption .Military leadership symbols
Apart from more elaborate
uniform and their distinguishing marks (epaulette s, caps,medal s), senior military officers may traditionally carry a baton or affect a similar substitute (such as aswagger stick orcane ). Comparestaff of office .Banner s,pennant s andguidon s serve (or served in the past) to identify leaders as rallying-points or field command-posts. Traces of these continue onstaff car s or on naval ships, for example: seebroad pennant and compare the concept and origin of aflagship .Ecclesiastical leadership symbols
Religious dignitaries often use
vestment s to emphasize the overall sacred nature of their organization. But some touches identify leaders and make them more imposing: a bishop'smitre , for example, a cardinal's red hat, a papaltiara or apapal ring . Less flamboyant faiths may use subtler symbolism to set religious leadership, holiness or saintliness apart: the understated dark vestments of the Protestant clergyman, the relatively unobtrusiveclerical collar , or even the nakedness of a stereotypical Hindu asceticfakir .Gender-related leadership symbols
Ownership of a
harem has both practical and symbolic uses for leaders in traditional polygamous societies: harems spread genes and symbolically demonstrate wealth and status. Within such harems whole systems of symbolism may develop: the use of exclusive and inaccessible apartness,veil ing, and the employment ofeunuch s. Cultures which practiseserial monogamy feature harem-analogous symbolism in the flaunting of trophy wives.Items such as
codpiece s may suggest the assumed superiority of one gender-role over another: or symbolic leadership (implied by implied potency) within patriarchal structures. A slightly less extreme example, but one more common in modern times, expresses power relationships (and thus leadership symbolism) through the use of the phrase "wearing thetrousers ".Ancient Egyptian
pharaoh s used a stylised artificiallabdanum -soaked goats-hairbeard as one of the regalia of rulership: a clear case of associating a male attribute with leadership.ymbols of leadership in offices
The suit continues to mark out the
managerial class (which pretends toleadership functions) as a whole from ordinary blue-collar or non-suitedworker s. Suits stand at the apex of a system ofdress code details:international standard business attire , with largely symbolic associations; see for example:
*White-collar worker
*business casual
*necktie
*Collar (clothing) At the top levels of a bureaucratic organisation, senior leaders often attempt to merge the practical with the symbolic, making the perks of office appear functional: they may claim larger cars, smaller computers, an entrance guarded by a (non-digital)
personal assistant , a large but uncluttereddesk and (especially) a "corner office " with an aesthetically upliftingview .
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