Ahead of Her Time: How Mary Parker Follett Shaped Modern Leadership

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the contributions of women who have shaped the world in remarkable ways. One such trailblazer who is under-recognised for her influence is Mary Parker Follett, a pioneering thinker in leadership, management, and organisational theory.

It’s difficult to overstate Mary’s impact. Just about every leadership theory today – from trait, relational, distributed, situational, authentic, transformational, servant and pretty much every other theory – has been influenced by her studies and laid the foundation for modern management practices

Outside of academic and leadership purist discussions, she is often overlooked. But her insights into power dynamics, participatory decision-making, and leadership as a relational process make her a true visionary ahead of her time.

Early Life and Education

Mary Parker Follett was born in 1868 in Quincy, Massachusetts. She attended Radcliffe College, where she studied political science, philosophy, and economics – an unusual academic pursuit for women of her time.

From an early age, she exhibited a keen interest in democracy and organisational behaviour, foreshadowing her later groundbreaking work in management theory. Her early experiences working in community programs and social work shaped her belief in participatory governance and the power of collective decision-making.

Pioneering Ideas in Leadership and Management

Follett’s ideas challenged the rigid, hierarchical structures that dominated business and politics in her era. She introduced several key concepts that have since influenced modern leadership theory:

• Power With vs. Power Over – Unlike traditional models that emphasised command-and-control leadership, Follett argued that true leadership comes from power with others rather than power over them. She believed that leaders should empower employees and foster shared decision-making.
• The Law of the Situation – Instead of relying on authority alone, Follett proposed that leadership should be dictated by the specific needs of a situation. This principle anticipated modern situational leadership models, which advocate for adaptability in management.
• Circular Response – She introduced the idea that organisations are dynamic, interactive systems where communication and influence flow in multiple directions. This concept prefigured contemporary ideas of systems thinking and feedback loops.

These ideas, though revolutionary at the time, have become essential elements in today’s best leadership practices, including servant leadership, agile management, and collaborative decision-making.

Influence on Business, Politics, and Conflict Resolution

Follett’s work was not limited to the business world. Her insights extended into political science, social work, and mediation. She saw conflict not as something to be suppressed but as an opportunity for creative problem-solving. Her conflict resolution model, based on integration rather than domination or compromise, is now widely used in negotiation and mediation practices.

Her influence reached corporate and political leaders of her time. Executives at General Electric sought her counsel on management and workplace relations, and she was asked to support President Roosevelt on approaches to management within NGOs, not-for-profit and volunteering organisations.

She was also the first women to speak at the London School of Economics and made significant contributions to public administration, advocating for citizen engagement and participatory democracy.

Impact on Modern Leadership and Management Theories

After her death in 1933, her writings were largely forgotten.

The ideas of creating high-performing teams based on individual strengths and great cultures fell out of fashion, as the world lurched toward war and the traditional autocratic, command-and-control styles used within the military at the time.

Although Follett’s work was not fully recognised in her lifetime, it later influenced major management thinkers, including Peter Drucker and Warren Bennis. Her principles align with many modern business philosophies, such as:

• Servant Leadership – The idea that leaders should serve their teams, rather than control them, echoes Follett’s vision of power-sharing and employee empowerment.
• Collaborative Workplaces – Today’s emphasis on teamwork, flat organisational structures, and cross-functional collaboration mirrors her advocacy for integrative decision-making.
• Diversity and Inclusion – Follett’s belief in valuing different perspectives as a strength foreshadowed modern initiatives to create inclusive workplaces.

Her emphasis on participatory leadership is particularly relevant in today’s digital and remote work environments, where empowerment and adaptability are crucial.

Legacy and Why She Deserves More Recognition

Despite her immense contributions, Mary Parker Follett remains underappreciated compared to her male counterparts in management theory. Her work was overshadowed by the dominance of scientific management approaches at the time, which focused on efficiency and control rather than human-centric leadership.

It wasn’t until the turn of this century that her writings were re-discovered, re-published and found a new following with today’s leadership thought leaders.

Recognising Follett’s legacy is more than an act of historical justice. It is essential for the future of leadership. As organisations increasingly value collaboration, adaptability, and inclusion, her principles provide a timeless guide to effective management and ethical leadership.

Conclusion

Mary Parker Follett was not just ahead of her time, she was a visionary whose ideas continue to shape leadership and management today. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is crucial to acknowledge her pioneering contributions and integrate her wisdom into contemporary leadership discourse.

In a world still grappling with power imbalances, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership, Follett’s insights offer a powerful roadmap for the leaders of today and tomorrow. Let us recognise her by embracing her vision of leadership as a force for empowerment, innovation, and shared success.