The thing is, leading requires people skills. Think Reagan.
I think it is a sign of our times, that all of the heroes have been torn down and replaced with anti-heroes. As a result, we now look up to snarky losers, or barely contained psychopaths instead of the virtuous. Then we wonder why we are having problems.
Machiavelli was very savvy about human nature and politics. He noticed that in a republic people are jealous of worthy leaders. They suppress a worthy leader and only support him during a time of crisis. After the crisis is over, they drag him down again.
Just like Churchill in England.