WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 04: President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address as ... [+] House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence look on in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives on February 04, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump delivers his third State of the Union to the nation the night before the U.S. Senate is set to vote in his impeachment trial. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Leadership literature comprises thousands of works hundreds of which are typologies that categorize leaders in ways to explain their actions. But very few examine Political Leadership. And given the rise of populist parties and alternative facts, advancing understanding of actions taken by politicians is crucial.

And so, last month, ITV's Peston selected a typology from Harvard Business Review famed for its global media coverage and usage by Fortune 500 executives the world over. Researchers, including myself, were tasked with applying the work to the political industry - given its high degree of generalizability. The findings concluded that five types of political leaders exist, which are as follows.

1. Surgeon Leaders

They're incredibly decisive and incisive, somewhat Machiavellian, and rule-breaking by nature. They focus on delivering short term impact by quickly identify what's not working. Then they forensically redirect attention and resources to problems most pressing because they don't prioritize things that aren't mission-critical. Often seen as a ruthless disciplinarian, these leaders believe they're mandated to build performance shifts using their trusted blueprints and rulebooks of which people must obey to the latter. In the short-term, this strategy can work well, and performance typically improves significantly, usually within the first two years they're tenured. Observants will claim to have witnessed an incredible transformation. But this is temporary because the entity has become cult-like in operation, meaning it is heavily reliant and dependent upon one person themselves the "chosen one." And after the Surgeon leaves, performance crashes back to earth. Observants will then blame the new leader, while buoyed up by an undeserved reputation, the Surgeon has moved on to their next patient or Golf Course in the case of Donald Trump a classic Surgeon Leader.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 06: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he ... [+] speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. After five months of congressional hearings and investigations about President Trumps dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. Senate formally acquitted the president on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Even post-acquittal, he wears the badge of impeachment somewhat favorably because it provides a useful re-election narrative. Even so, 'the Donald' is one of only three presidents in U.S. history to be impeached and the only president to seek re-election after being impeached. In his recent State of the Union address, he declared, "Our economy is the best it has ever been." Adding, "If we hadn't reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success." But critics, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, suggests this claim is unfounded, calling it "a manifesto of mistruths."

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Britain's Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove speaks at ... [+] QEII before a speech by Boris Johnson as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory on December 13, 2019 in London, England. Johnson called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. As the results roll in the Conservative Party has gained the number of seats needed to win a clear majority at the expense of the Labour Party. Votes are still being counted and an overall result is expected later today. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

In Britain, Michael Gove has also demonstrated severe mistruths throughout his tenure and should face imprisonment for his lies told during the Brexit campaign, according to critics. The classic Surgeon Leader who infamously stabbed Boris Johnson in the back and David Cameron in the front is hated by many teachers but holds a reputation in and around Westminster as the most effective minister of recent times. During his rise to the top, Gove seemingly developed a canny ability to get things done he's a fixer, just like fellow Westminster Surgeon Dominic Cummings. His track record is of effectiveness occurred across three different government departments, primarily due to his laser-like focus about what he wants to achieve and bloody-mindedness about getting there, again, just like Cummings.

2. Soldier Leaders

They like order and efficiency, hate waste, and subscribe to the view that entities fail because they're fat, lazy, and frivolous. Consequently, they're inclined to trim and tighten, focusing on the bottom line with an insatiable tenacity and heavy-duty focus on tasks. These leaders often cut staff and non-essential activities, automate processes, and fixate on operational details, which in turn drives a culture and climate of fear and uncertainty. Finances typically improve during their tenure because they 'tighten the screws' on people and processes, but this isn't sustainable over time because people and processes are suffocated. By the time they need to breathe again, the Soldier has moved onto their next mission.

COLLEGE STATION, TX - JANUARY 20: Former Defense Secretary and 46th Vice President Dick Cheney ... [+] attends an event honoring the 20th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War on January 20, 2011 in College Station Texas. The Gulf War was waged against Iraq from August 1990 to February 1991 during President George H. W. Bush's administration. (Photo by Ben Sklar/Getty Images)

Dick Cheney optimizes the Solider Leader. Serving as secretary of defense between 1989 and 1993, he directed two military campaigns, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his leadership. Then, using the contacts he'd made, entered the private sector as Chairman and CEO of Halliburton. Upon returning to Capitol Hill in 2001 with a $36 million severance package, Cheney joined the Oval Office as vice president and began an eight-year tenure of deregulation, self-regulation, and corruption. His orders to subordinates included illegally spying on innocent Americans, introducing a regime of torture, and diverting raw intelligence directly to his office - which manipulated presidential decision making and resulted in mistruths shared about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction war followed. During the run-up to which, Halliburton received a $7 billion contract to provide logistics no other company was allowed to bid - one of the most significant cases of war profiteering ever.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Whilst 80,000 people attend a demonstration organized by the TUC ... [+] and anti-austerity protesters, British Chancellor George Osborne arrives on day one of the Conservative Party Conference (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

In Britain, George 'nine jobs' Osborne optimizes the Solder Leader. Even though his political tenure has ended, at least for now, some would argue it continues under a new guise. His time as Chancellor of the Exchequer was extremely eventful. Entering Downing Street in May 2010, Osborne inherited national growth in a state of recovery and improving public sector finances. But, rather than building on this growth, he ordered sizeable cuts to government expenditure. In doing so, he tightened the screws on the economy and society - millions of working families were left worse off, and some districts had to cut spending by up to 46 percent. His reasoning for such severe levels of Austerity was to manage the public purse, debt, and deficit better. In the short term, fiscal improvements occurred. But two years later, national income declined and wiped out those improvements meaning the government missed all its targets for reducing public debt. The legacy of Osborne's orders remain infamous - those affected by his Austerity measures were receptive to the 2016 Leave campaign - meaning his 'screw tightening' contributed to Brexit. But Osborne, like Cheney, didn't stick around. He left Parliament and began several new missions earning himself millions.

3. Accountant Leaders

They appear more moderate and liked than Surgeons. They're keen to invest and grow, focusing on the top line, unlike Soldiers, because they subscribe to the view that entities fail if they're small and weak. These leaders oppose Austerity Politics and are resourceful leaders who operate systematically, focusing on economic growth. As such, Accountants are often described as creative financiers, are good with figures, and possess a je ne sais quoi. During their tenure, economic performance usually increases and continues to do so after their departure. Consequently, they're typically remembered more favorably than Surgeons and Soldiers even if they do have faults worthy of impeachment.

Former US president Bill Clinton talks during the Special Session on Haiti, on the second day of the ... [+] World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on January 28, 2010, which is to be attended by 2,500 top politicians, captains of industries and civil society leaders. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Clinton said the catastrophe could turn out to be an opportunity for the devastated Caribbean island state to emerge from generations of grinding poverty. AFP PHOTO PIERRE VERDY (Photo credit should read PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty Images)

Bill Clinton optimizes the Accountant Leader - he presided over one of the most impressive economic turnarounds in modern history. During his presidency, he executed a fiscal strategy that invested in people, innovation, and infrastructuretransforming the weak economy he inherited into a powerhouse, turning deficits into surpluses, and creating a bedrock for strong future growth. He foresaw changes that globalization would bring and began thinking about solutions the nation would need to prosper in the 21st century. By the end of his tenure, 22.7 million new jobs existed. Additionally, unemployment decreased to a 30-year low, and gross domestic product grew by 35 percent overall through the most prolonged period of sustained growth in U.S. history. Also, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplusthe first such surplus since 1969.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 05: Gordon Brown, the former UK prime minister and current head of ... [+] the World Economic Forum's infrastructure initiative, delivers a speech on the third day of the 25th World Economic Forum meeting held under the theme "Then and Now: Reimagining Africa's Future" in Cape Town, South Africa on June 5, 2015. (Photo by Ashraf Hendricks/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

In Britain, Gordon Brown optimizes the Accountant Leader. His tenure was certainty eventful and made the bank of England operationally independent when it came to setting monetary policy, ending decades of politically motivated interest rate manipulation. Early on, his strict adherence to the Golden Rule allowed him to be simultaneously fiscally responsible and distributive he even earned the revered title "Flash Gordon." But in the second half of his tenure, possibly in a bid to make himself more popular ahead of becoming PM, he abandoned it, and the deficit increased. Brown's policy of encouraging banks to lend up to 125 percent mortgages inadvertently laid the foundations for the nation's financial crisis. But even so, Ipsos MORI regards him as the county's most successful post-War Chancellor and best in terms of providing economic stability, working independently from the Prime Minister, and leaving a lasting legacy on Britain's economy.

4. Philosopher Leaders

They're passionate debaters and love to discuss the merits of alternative approaches, often guided by principles driven by dogma. They are adept with words and very inspiring to those who share a prevailing ideology but often jarring and stubborn to those who don't. These leaders can appear to marginalise those who are guided by different principles and are somewhat elitist, although they'd never say so because they believe they're anti-establishment. Consequently, they spend most of their time debating and discussing whether a direction of travel is the right thing to do generally with their supporters, which creates echo chambers. Thus, Philosophers can miss the viewpoints held by a wider population. Supporters of Philosophers are very excited when they begin their tenure they believe a revolution will transpire. So much change is promised, but very little is delivered. When asked why Philosophers will never accept fault someone or something else should be blamed even the electorate.

Presidential Woodrow Wilson speaks to a crowd in Union Square. (Photo by Library of ... [+] Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Woodrow Wilson optimizes the Philosopher Leader. He was the first college professor to occupy the presidency. His tenure driven by ideology, but marred by elitism, racism, and white supremacy - desiring to rid the nation of those he classified as "hyphenated Americans." He supported segregation in government departments and did little to end race riots that occurred during his administration even throwing a civil-rights leader out of the White House. He pushed laws to prosecute and imprison those who disagreed with his policies including journalists and presidential candidates. And he made the colossal blunder of entering World War I where his idealism paid a substantial cost and led to unintended consequences in Germany and Russia, contributing to the rise of totalitarian regimes and a second world war.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 31: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joins hundreds of protestors during a ... [+] Stop the Coup protest in George Square on August 31, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. Left-wing group Momentum, remain group Another Europe is Possible and the People's Assembly coordinate a series of "Stop The Coup" protests across the UK aimed at Boris Johnson and the UK government proroguing Parliament. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

In Britain, Jeremy Corbyn optimizes the Philosopher Leader. During his tenure, the British Labour Party became "institutionally anti-Semitic" and weighed down by allegations of extremism. Despite this, many of his supporters believe he produced "the most wonderful manifesto this country has ever seen." But atypical of a Philosopher echo chamber, it delivered the worst general election defeat since 1935. Labour won 203 seats, down 59, and saw its vote share fall 7.8 percentage points to 32.2, while the British Conservatives won 365 seats, up 47, with 43.6 percent of the vote. Consequently, former home secretary David Blunkett blamed the devastating defeat on Corbyn and his "ultra-left wing sect of losers." Additionally, the three-time election-winning former prime minister Tony Blair called on Labour members to abandon the policies and philosophic ideologies of Corbyn arguing that the Party will never see power again till it demonstrates moderatism.

5. Architect Leaders

They're the most long-termist of the five and focus on redesigning and transforming to build long-term sustainable impact. These leaders are often insightful and visionary, subscribing to the view that entities fail because they don't adequately serve. In many ways, they're a combination of the best attributes of the other four leaders: they exemplify the concept of Servant Leadership an interconnected series of principles coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1977 that focuses on stewardship. Subsequently the tenure of an Architect Leader often produces steady performance improvement, though less so than Surgeon and Soldier Leaders. This is because Architect Leaders refuse to make quick wins - long-term sustainability is their singular agenda item. And for this reason, they're often vilified by those who are seemingly addicted to immediate impact and short term gains. Perversely, this means the work of an Architect Leader is often unappreciated in the moment for it takes time for the fruits of their labor to blossom, and there is, unfortunate reluctance within society to recognize genius in its own time - Surgeon Leaders are valued much more.

Last photograph of Abraham Lincoln, (1809-1865), 16th president of the United States of America and ... [+] Architect Leader, April 1865. Lincoln joined the Republican party in 1858 and was elected president two years later. In 1863, he proclaimed the emancipation of all slaves in the southern Confederate states and later that year restated his anti-slavery views in the Gettysburg Address. During his 1864 campaign for re-election, he embraced the abolition of slavery. He was infamously shot by actor John Wilkes Booth whilst attending the theatre in 1865. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Abraham Lincoln optimizes the Architect Leader. He's often regarded as the greatest president ever because of his unwavering stewardship during the Civil War, and subsequent preservation of the Union. He's famed for delivering the Emancipation Proclamation, which led the way to the total abolition of slavery despite many of his cabinet secretaries criticizing it at the time for being too radical. They weren't his only critics and policy was not their only subject matter. Lincoln was ridiculed for not possessing adequate formal learning. His appearance, too, was joked upon words such as 'Idiot,' 'Yahoo,' 'Original Gorilla' frequently used. His wife said that the constant attacks caused him "great pain." Yet despite this, his persistence and courage enabled him to pioneer forward leaving behind a nation transformed and a timeless legacy.

Welsh Labour politician and Architect Leader Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960, right) addressing a National ... [+] Council of Civil Liberties meeting on the freedom of the press in Central Hall, Westminster, London, 24th April 1942. Original publication: Picture Post - 1143 - The Fight To Maintain The Freedom Of The Press - pub. 1942 (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post /Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A similar path was tread in Britain by Aneurin Bevan a classic Architect Leader. Unlike the Philosopher style, he was not overly rigid in his approach to politics and was willing to compromise to put his ideas into practice. Though he died in 1960 and never led Party or Country, his legacy lives forever - the National Health Service (NHS). Since coming into being on July 5, 1948, his founding principle that healthcare must be free at the point of delivery based on need, not wealth, has become a bedrock of civic life and British identity. It is more popular now than at its creation, and more popular than the monarchy, the BBC and the military. Yet like Lincoln and many other Architect Leaders, his tenure was not without critics. And his frequent opposition to Winston Churchill made him unpopular with members of the electorate, leading to the regular receipt of excrement parcels at his address. Bevan never achieved the 'top job.' But he accomplished something far more valuable a legacy that continues to affect the prosperity of millions. And ultimately, isn't that what matters?

After all, we should be judging our politicians on their eulogy, not their resume.

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There Are Five Types Of Political Leader. So Which Is Donald Trump? - Forbes