Defining an Alpha Leader
“For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.”
- Rudyard Kipling
I was watching a documentary on the strata of leadership amongst animals in the wild. The term "Alpha" was used to describe a strong, protective leader. After it ended, I channel-surfed and watched a documentary on a Rock & Roll band that used the term "Alpha Leader" as a dirty word to describe the “punitive and overbearing” lead singer as he led the band to the top of the charts.
I was confused. How can Alpha be used in one sense as a leader who looks out for the safety and welfare of the group, and then in the next minute, the term Alpha is a dirty word?
I took a quick text poll of my “Quarters” and asked them what comes to mind when they hear the term “Alpha Leader”.
The responses were varied. “Silent, confident leader”. “Take charge person”. “An authoritarian/militaristic type who is more of a bulldozer than a leader”. “A winner”. “One who is headstrong and opinionated.” All five are successful in their lives and are not swayed by political narratives. Instead, they use life experiences of dealing with diverse leaders during their illustrious careers.
So, I began to wrestle with the concept of what an Alpha Leader truly is. This article wasn’t written in a single sitting. It was a 12-round battle. In the end, this is what I came up with:
The mantle of leadership stands as a beacon of hope and direction.
"Alpha Leader" conjures images of confident individuals who inspire others through their vision, charisma, and decisiveness. An Alpha Leader means more than just holding a position of power; it's about understanding how to handle the qualities that foster trust, respect, and unity. This concept reassures us that true leadership is not about control but building a strong, united team.
When I think of an Alpha Leader, I think of my high school football coach, Barry Alverez. He built a championship football team from the ground up. He built his leadership culture by cultivating trust, discipline, hard work, and teamwork. He was demanding and would let a player know when they were stepping outside of his boundaries of how things were to be done.
Later, I saw Scotty Conley as an Alpha Leader, but in a different way. He was a master communicator. He cultivated the same values that coach Alverez had, but he used a softer voice with the same message. You didn’t want to disappoint him because you knew how much he cared about each individual.
A third Alpha Leader came into my life when I joined Pete Carroll’s staff at the University of Southern California. His message was the same as Barry and Scotty's, but he infused his leadership with enthusiasm. He controlled the message from top to bottom. If someone didn’t fit his vision, they would be let go. He did not lead through intimidation; he led by promoting a feeling of the US versus the World; you were either part of the solution or part of the problem.
Three different leadership styles, three different personalities, yet all were Alpha Leaders who led their teams to championships. These three Alpha Leaders possessed the same three traits that I have seen in other great leaders while lacking in those who did not find success.
Emotional Intelligence
An Alpha Leader is acutely aware of their own emotions and those of others around them. Think back to moments when someone intuitively understood your feelings without you having to say much—this ability is emotional intelligence (EI).
Leaders like Satya Nadella at Microsoft show this trait by actively listening to their teams and fostering an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued. Listening is one of the traits that has been lost in the age of computers. Everyone is too busy talking and not listening enough and trying to understand what is being said.
The term “word salad” has become very popular. This is when people try to hide their lack of knowledge through the use of words. However, by being attuned to the emotional spirit within your organization, you can address concerns before they change the arc of your success through active listening.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Words can inspire change, but actions solidify credibility as an Alpha Leader. Consider Mahatma Gandhi's famous quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Dan Hurley is the head basketball coach of the two-time national champion University of Connecticut. He is the definition of “actions speak louder than words.” Hurley will always take less to ensure that his people get more. When it comes to the athlete Dan will only ask what he is willing to give in the same measure.
When leaders demonstrate integrity through their actions—whether upholding company values or showing dedication during challenging times—they cultivate trust among team members.
Alpha Leaders understand how their actions align with their words; authenticity in practice reinforces their leadership role.
Inspire Continuous Learning
Alpha Leaders understand that when we stop learning, we become stuck and stagnate, and soon, our forward movement and, often our careers, die. Alpha Leaders will remain on the cutting edge of information to stay at the forefront of success and demand that those around them do the same.
Just look at how AI has changed the face of creativity in our lives. A leader stuck in the past will not understand the dangers, as well as the positives, that AI brings with it. It’s not about staying current with new ideas; great leaders will be at the forefront of change.
Too many leaders will jump from one hot gimmick to another to seem to be on the cutting edge. In fact, they are so uneducated that they don’t see the long-term issues inherent in their strategy flip-flopping.
We see this in the NFL with the current gimmick-laced idea of Sports Science. Owners and head coaches fell in love with the idea that they could predict injuries before they happened. Instead of getting a crystal ball, they put the welfare of their athletes in the hands of people who have no idea how to prepare athletes for the rigors of the game of football, let alone for an entire season.
Statisticians show that players are getting injured at historic rates instead of reducing the number of injuries. Nobody has found it strange that there is no boasting about how well Sports Science works. Instead, the players are now preparing and rehabbing with outside entities rather than the tried-and-true method that has been used for years.
This could have been prevented by slowing down the integration of the changes and road-testing the new idea that came from soccer. The ideas that did help could have been integrated, and those that didn’t could have been used as a learning opportunity.
But it would have taken team leaders to vet the ideas, which seemed too complicated, and now the players and the game are paying for the knee-jerk leap into the future of football.
Redefine the Term
An Alpha Leader may be what your company or organization needs. Suppose you are looking for someone who will inspire others towards greatness while maintaining a balance through emotional intelligence, leading by example, and demanding that everyone continue to learn. In that case, this type of leader fits your requirements.
If you want a person who runs through a committee, who does not take control during hard times and is always finding themselves behind the times when it comes to technology, then you won’t want an Alpha Leader.
True leadership comes from understanding ourselves deeply while uplifting those around us. Together, we can redefine what it means to be an effective leader in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
Have an amazing day.
