Hi, Chip ... as usual, a fascinating and provocative post to set our brains working.

I enjoyed your review of how different leadership approaches work in diverse contexts and really resonated with the principle you included in the second example:  "There is unity in strength; strength in unity".   Nicely stated and takes what we often hear ("Strength in unity" alone) to a whole new level.

While I did not see combat, my military background also includes those leadership situations and that dreaded question "What do you do now, Lieutenant?"   Unfortunately but predictably, my response were usually weak and sometimes just did not fit at all .. but they made me think about what I could do  in a real situation.

I think you make an excellent point about moving past reliance on models to identify and live with principles.  The models tend to come and go, at least in my experience, and may only reflect the popularity of a particular book or person at a given time.

Principles tend to be longer-lasting and more useful.

I have no particular example to offer, but you are making me think much deeper about my own leadership this morning and that is a very good thing.

John