Leadership Definitions

When I started studying about leadership I collected several leadership definitions. It really impressed me the different ways the subject was seen. Some say it’s a process, some say it’s an ability, others say it’s a relationship. Go on, start with the one you like the most, and go for it. Go to be a leader.

• “Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow”. (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).
• “Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”. (Northouse, 2004)
• “Leadership is the influencing process of leaders and followers to achieve organizational objectives through changes”. (Lussier & Achua, 2004)
• “Leadership is the behavior of an individual… directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal”. (Hemphill & Coons, 1957)
• “Leadership is the influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organization” (D.Katz & Kahn, 1978)
• “Leadership is the process of incluencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement” (Rauch & Behling, 1984)
• “Leadership is a process of giving purpose (meaningful direction) to collective effort, and causing willing effort to be expended to achieve purpose” (Jacobs & Jacques, 1990)
• “Leadership is the ability to step outside the culture… to start evolutionary change processes that are more adaptive” (E.H. Schein, 1992)
• “Leadership is the process of making sense of waht people are doing together so that people will understand and be committed” (Drath & Palus, 1994)
• “Leadership is about articulating visions, embodying values, and creating the environment within which things can be accomplished” (Richards & Engle, 1986)
• “Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization…” (House et al., 1999)
• “Leadership is the ability of developing and communicating a vision to a group of people that will make that vision true” (Kenneth Valenzuela, 2007) <– This is mine.

• What’s the definition you like the most?
• What’s the definition you don’t agree with?
• Do you have any Idea about Leadership? Could you define it?
• What Leadership is for you? A relationship, A process… 

Further Investigation and References

Kouzes, J.; Posner, B. (2002) “The Leadership Challenge” (3rd Ed)
Jossey Bass

Northouse, P.G. (2004) “Leadership Theory and Practice” (3rd Ed)
Sage Publications

Lussier, R.N.; Achua, C.F. (2004) “Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development” (2nd Ed)
South-Western

Yukl, G.A. (2002) “Leadership in Organizations” (5th Ed)
Prentice-Hall

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