Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that attributing success solely to one person is a kind of sacralization of that individual, adding, “It is like this in Eastern societies. We take refuge in the leader and feel comfortable. If the leader is strong, we are at ease. We expect everything from them, but that’s not how things work anymore; we are in the 21st century.”
In his assessment made within the scope of the November 10 Atatürk Commemoration Day and Week on TRT RADYO 1, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated: “When success is achieved, it is not attributed to just one person; it is given to the entire team. In fact, the War of Independence is an all-out war.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations regarding the concept of leadership and scientific leadership.
Difficult times bring forth strong people
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, referring to the saying 'Difficult times bring forth strong people,' explained that the War of Independence period was a difficult time, and that at the Sivas Congress, Tıbbiyeli Hikmet told Mustafa Kemal, 'Commander, we, the medical students, want independence. Even if you oppose independence, we will oppose you. We oppose mandates; we want independence. We do not accept mandates.' He then recounted Kemal Paşa's famous words to this medical student, who later took the name Hikmet Boran: 'Then I think like you too. Either independence or death.'
The War of Independence is an all-out war
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that not accepting defeat meant not accepting a mandate, and reminded that the Istanbul Government, under British pressure, stripped Atatürk of his rank, and it was then that Kazım Karabekir came before Atatürk and said, 'We are ready for your command, my commander.'
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "Leadership enters a serious danger there, and here too, the leader is not alone, but leads with the team. One of the mistakes we make is also present in the military, which I know because I have a military background. If a battalion takes a hill, the success belongs to the entire battalion, but if a battalion loses the hill, the failure belongs to the battalion commander. When success is achieved, it is not given to just one person; it is given to the entire team. In fact, the War of Independence is an all-out war."
Emphasizing the importance of saying 'Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms,' Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that attributing success solely to one person is a kind of sacralization of that individual, and that sacralization is a weakness of Eastern cultures.
If the leader is strong, we are at ease
Tarhan, stating that sacralization feeds its opposite, continued as follows:
“When commemorating November 10, it is crucial to maintain a good measure and balance. For example, in Western cultures, individuals are not sacralized; they are system societies. We have not been able to become a system society. This is the case in all Eastern societies. We take refuge in the leader and feel comfortable. If the leader is strong, we are at ease. We expect everything from them, but that's not how things work anymore; we are in the 21st century.
Group intelligence is superior to individual intelligence. We should think like this now: what would Atatürk do if he were alive today? He had to act autocratically then, but if he were to come now, Atatürk would act democratically.”
A leader must be visionary
Tarhan, noting that the greatest characteristic of leaders is 'being visionary,' said:
“Therefore, the most important characteristic of scientific leadership is its ability to be visionary. There is classical leadership; a classical leader manages the existing system and, for example, does not value change. They obey laws and rules. They are commanding, apply legislation identically, and never make comments. 'It's forbidden, my friend,' and that's it. This, unfortunately, is the disease of leadership in state bureaucracy and is also present in new cadres. Young people come, but it's interesting how they catch it.
There are also charismatic leaders, which are somewhat different from scientific leadership. Charismatic leaders are, for example, influential. A charismatic leader is important when winning a war, but in the long term, charismatic leadership is very dangerous. Because they make quick decisions, do not consult, take risks, are courageous, and hardworking, but they are like Formula racers. They drive the car very dangerously and easily flip. Everyone watches with admiration; if they succeed, they become a hero; if they fail, they go to the trash bin of history.”
A charismatic leader wants to control everything, takes risks
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, also explaining that charismatic leadership is not open to ideas, said, “They crush obstacles. They are results-oriented, thinking 'let there be a result, no matter how it happens,' they sideline the law, and their power of influence is high. They don't try to persuade because they are commanding. Their motivation is reward and punishment. They give the biggest rewards to those who obey them but treat those who don't obey unfairly. They don't easily give initiative. They want to control everything themselves, they take risks.”
Tarhan stated that teamwork is valued in scientific leadership, and that employee motivation is important and gives people a sense of achievement.
Tarhan also stated that charismatic leaders constantly desire tension, saying, "They always need an enemy. They want tension to awaken a sense of opposition in their supporters."