Define Leadership
I often get emails asking me for a comprehensive leadership definition. Leadership is such a vast subject that encompasses so many areas of our being, and is so subjective – I have decided to offer up several definitions of leadership from various sources on this page.
Martin Chemers ~Social Psychologist
“Leadership is the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”.
Martin Chemers is a thought leader in the world of leadership, and has published a book entitled ‘An Integrative Theory Of Leadership‘.
Donald Clark ~ Consultant and trainer
“Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, such as beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills. Although your position as a manager or supervisor gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization, this power does not make you a leader, it simply makes you the boss. Leadership differs in that it makes the followers want to achieve high goals, rather than simply bossing people around.”
Don Clark blogs about learning for professionals at The Learning Ciruits Blog
Edi Kurnik ~ Blogger at Define Leadership.
“Leadership is a process of leading people in the right direction in order to achieve goals. Leaders apply leadership attributes such as values, knowledge and skills to implement this process in any organization.”
So there you have it. 3 definitions from 3 different viewpoints. Do you have a different way to define leadership? If so, leave a comment below, and your definition may even be merged into the article for the world to read!
Simon Oates ~ Leadership Expert
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Hi
I have just stumbled across this website. Very interesting. Does anyone out there have any good websites i can look at for e-journals in leadership or motivation? I am studying a masters, distance learning so any pointers would be great.
Thanks
Definition of leadership:-
A good leader leads from the front and is a role model to their teams by encouraging a poractive attitude by strengthening skills and knowledge by acting as a mentor as well as a leader. To be a good leader requires respect as without this you will lead but your team will not follow.
proactive even!
Just a thought: can you actually “lead” if people do not follow?
How would you define leadership if you believe in the Behavioral Theory? This group of experts concentrated on what the leaders did in relation to their followers. While the previous theory spoke about qualities of a leader, this theory approached it from the angle of style.say now?
Interesting.
I recently found out that leadership is perceived in different ways depending on the culture. Though Clark’s definition sounds like what we would expect leadership to be, the relationship between leadership and management is more complex that than, or at least the association done between them.
Celina, you’ve brought an interesting subject here, yet I do not believe that it makes much difference. Whether you believe in the trait or the behavioral theory, a leader still require certain attributes. A person can be born with a set of unique traits, but it doesn’t necessarily means he uses them or that he’s actually aware of them. We often say that the situation creates the leader. Can be he had it in him, can be he learned by experience or necessity.
This is the way I define leadership:)
Leadership is a mutual influence process, whereby the leader and willing followers partner in order to achieve common, ethically responsible goals in an ethically responsible manner.
The leader and follower characteristics and behaviors are other definitions.
from my own paspective of view,Leadership as a context, has got to do with setting and attianing your goals, by aiding other poeple through a mutual understanding.
splendit article
Excellent review! I love what you said about the author’s brilliant world building and the cultural and historical references. This sounds like a unique, interesting story.