The conventional approach to leadership, often seen as a rigid hierarchy where one leads and the others follow, is considered obsolete and unproductive in contemporary work settings. This method curbs proactivity, disconnects employees, and depends heavily on the lead's character. What has proved to be more effective is the leader-leader approach where everyone steps up and unlocks their leadership capabilities, as seen on the nuclear submarine USS Santa Fe. The ship transformed from being the least to the most efficient by delegating control to everyone on board, strengthening their abilities, and outlining a clear mission. This translated into enhanced performance, morale, and resilience. It signifies a pressing need to abandon the outdated leader-follower model and emerge as leaders who collaboratively tackle complex hurdles.

This transformation hasn't been an easy one. Initially, the concept of leadership was understood much differently. It was seen more as a single hero leading from the front - a belief fortified at the Naval Academy. An attempt was made on the USS Will Rogers, a nuclear submarine, to put a participative leadership approach into action by ceding more control to subordinates. But it proved to be unsuccessful and the traditional top-down leadership had to be reinstated as poor decisions were made without proper direction.

Things began to change when it became evident that possessing absolute authority in a leader-follower setup was contradictory. The question arose whether the leader alone holds the key to competence. And doubts lingered whether his leadership training was misguided. This culminated during his time on the USS Olympia. While onboard, the crew's opposition to changing the hierarchical system in place highlighted the appeal of leader-follower structures. However, the wasted human potential over time due to the concentration on short-term gains and lack of focus on long-term leadership effectiveness became apparent. Clearly, this called for a rethinking of preconceived assumptions. Hence, a shift towards the leader-leader approach evolved.