Tough and kind leadership among the Konyaks of Nagaland

Purpose This paper aims to look at the practices within the principal Konyak kingdoms in Nagaland, and how leaders in other cultural contexts can learn from reconciling tough and kind forms of leadership. Design/methodology/approach For centuries, the villages of the principal Konyak kingdoms in Nagaland raided each other to take the heads of men, women and children in ritualised hostilities. Originally to bring fertility and good harvests, this practice evolved almost exclusively into an expression of power and success. One of the authors spent three weeks in January 2020 living in a Konyak village learning about leadership from the last surviving face-tattooed warriors, once successful headhunters. Findings The authors found a servant leadership culture based on kindness and collaboration, in some ways at odds with the brutal tradition associated with their society. Framing this compassionate leader and follower relationship is the concept of matkapu, or standing for the truth of things. Practical implications The authors explore whether contemporary organisations looking to sustain operational excellence and well-being, and often seeking to balance the needs of different stakeholders, can learn from the Konyaks based on centuries of continual conflict and volatility. Originality/value The authors show how contemporary organisations looking to sustain operational excellence and well-being can learn from the Konyaks based on centuries of continual conflict and volatility.