Identifying the Dimensions and Components of Social Influence in the Leadership Style of Martyr Ghasem Soleimani

Researchers in the field of management and leadership believe that the most important leadership skill involves the power of influencing people and the ability to help achieve goals. Relying on the same power of social influence, martyr Ghasem Soleimani succeeded in arriving at the position of the most popular political and military figure in the country at the public level, the axis of unity, and the center of gravity of all streams of the Resistance Front at international level, and changing regional equations in favor of the resistance. Hence, from this perspective, social influence can be regarded as one of the components of leadership in the General Soleimani’s school. As a result, the researcher is making an attempt to explain the dimensions and components of social influence in this school through thematic analysis by analyzing 12 interviews, lectures and documents related to his leadership and management style. An analysis of the results showed that the possibility of social influence in Shahid Soleimani’s school is based on “sources of influence”, which is the product of the power of social authority, credibility and attractiveness. Realization of influence is based on six “strategies of influence” including the creation of drivers on the basis of inspiring aspects, understanding the needs and interests of the audience and addressing them, drawing kindness and affection, participatory management and decision-making, populism and constructive interaction with different groups of people, and progressive leadership. This process of influence has led to the “outcomes of influence” at four levels.