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.
Got the idea? Now it’s time for your call.
Your Call
- 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
Custom Search
Leadership
70 comments
I am a university student and am paseuing an Honors degree in pabulic administration. My concern is on African leadership. In my view the last difination is not so clear in comperison of the true leaders in Africa and most of all my Nation Uganda.
I am a university student from Ethiopia please read more book about leadership,and pray to God he give us good leader to all Africa country. God bless You.
I am a university student taking political science courses at the university of Dar-es-salaam Tanzania.Iwould like to comment briefly by congratulating most of the above scholer’s definitios on the term leadership but I’m very much impresed by House et al 1999 as it shows that the issue of leading is all about influencing,motivating and chance for others to give out their views for the betterment of the whole organisation as far as planing,organising,coordinating and controling is concern.Conclusivelly I can say LEADING IS NOT DECTATING.May almight God bless you all.
I am student who study at University of Puthisastra. I major in Accounting course. I really happy so much to know the meaning of the leadership. Understanding this meaning is going to make it possible for me to be a good leader in future. I think that if we can not be an investigated person who wants to search for what will happen in the future we can not make our mind to be clearly. I wish you get four bless of Buddha. Good bye.
all the definitions of leadership are expressed according to conditions. There is no one definition of leadership. As in general, leader must be a good organizer, leaders must be implemented the goals, and targets what they have set. A good organizer must know about the scope, rational, rationale, relationship.
We know more about the value of leadership than other developed countries, Why? you know, we are lack of good leadership in everywhere. leader is like the money, if you have a lot of money, you don’t mind to money that in your pocket, but if you scarce in money, you know more than other people the value of money, thank you that you give this opportunity to reply
Soe
Its really great that I have got the opportunity to read a lot about leadership as well as the comments. Any way, I think we need good leaders in every where; in our family, society, country and in the world so that we can folow him or her. Because for the lack of good leaders we are not getting the right way to go forward. As a result we are facing more problems than before. So let us be good leaders and lead good to be successful. May ALLAH help us. Parvez Babul, Bangladesh. parvezbabul@yahoo.com
i am student who study at marist international college nairobi Kenya. I thank those who proposed all these definitions of leadership. it is fervant prayer that the African leaders should have a close look at all the definitions and be able to find out where the belong. I think i find all the defintions quiete iencouraging since all talks of efficeincy and effective leadership.
l am an activist and community worker with the the Ogoni Solidarity Forum representing the organisation in West African.l thank those who had taking pains,brainstorm to bring out such useful definitions for the purpose of decent living amongst those that were created by God on earth.The suprise is that it does not show any lmpact on Africa leaders,especially Nigeria.
I am kuch Vannak, a human resource manager at HCC,would like to express an idea about the 12 definitions above. All the defntions above are good. No one is good and no one is bad.For me, I think leadership is the strategic way of getting people to do things independly, effectively and efficiently to achieve the organizational goal.
I am MBA student study at Norton University in CAMBODIA, during I was studying BBA, I really concussed the definition of Leadership and Management, but now , when I took MBA class and studied about Leadership course I can isolated and understood the meaning of these two word (Leadership & Management). So, I can express my opinion that “Leadership is doing the right things” and “Management is doing thing right” Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall and Management is efficiency in climbing the ladders of success.
An example the differences between Leadership and Management
Direction: [Leadership: Creating vision and strategy keeping eye on horizon] & [Management: Planning and budgeting keeping an eye on the bottom line]
Alignment: [Leadership: Creating shared culture and values helping others grow reducing boundaries] & [Management: Organizing and staffing directing controlling creating boundaries]
Relationship: [Leadership: Focusing on people inspiring and motivating followers based on personal power acting as coach facilitator servant] & [Management: Focusing on objects producing selling goods and services based on position power acting as boss]
Personal qualities: [Leadership: Emotional connection open mind listening non conformity insight into self] & [Management: Emotional distance expert mind talking conformity insight into organization]
Outcomes: [Leadership: Create change often radical change] & [Management: Maintains stability]
Thanks.
am a student who study ay daystar university kenya.am take development studies.am particulary worried at the current trend of leadership in afica.
I am a hotelier in The Bay Of Bengal Resort Hotel,Ngwe Saung Beach in Myanmar.I actually wanted to know how to become a good leader.I admit that i really don’t know the definition of leadership.But i so interested about leadership and Management.I do believe that i must be a good leader on day.That is my so desired goal for the people.Now i am receptionist in hotel.
May i share my poor thinking for u all,
A good leader who never think about her or himself and their family/country.He or she think about for the people,Orphan children s,Food less people,homeless people.
That we can call a good leader.
So a good leader never die.
Tint Lwin(Bay of Bengal Resort Hotel)
Hello the world great leaders!!!!!!!!!!!pls send me mail if you have any leader ship books or ideas.
that’s my gmail adress(tltmster@gmail.com)
i am student in karachi uni. Pakistan.student of masters in economics n finance these definition are wonderful these help in academic studies n if we apply these in our life we can produce gr8 leadership which is not avaliable in pakistan
I am much satisfied by the definition of leadership articulated by House et al 1999. It is a comprehensive and collective approach towards Leadership foot path.
Im university student, at mkwawa university in iringa, taking political science
all the definitions are right,because it depends on who define it,at what
circumstances,at what time and the status of the person who define leadership
I personaly like the quote by leadership guru Arthur F Carmazzi who says: “Leadership does not involve changing the mindset of the group, but the cultivation of an environment that brings out the best and inspires the individuals in that group to do what needs to be done”
I’m a student at Build Bright University,I’m very happy that I can understand the definitions of Leadership that can improve my lifestyle and every thing that require.
bye bye!
am a university student ,i request all leaders always to put GOD first in whatever they do inorder to avoid corruption . and they should always work for GOD and the country and not their stomach.
i am a student in RMIT University. i have been doing a learning contract about leadership in the organisation behaviour course. thank for who got these definitions and posted it into the internet. it is very helpful for me to understand more about the leadership concept. have a nice day eveybody
i’m a business man, i’m always searching for the definition of leadership
and management, but now i understand the definition and hope african leaders
will use this golden oppoturnity to change thier system of leadership, most especiallly
my country my father land that i loveD NIGERIA
gOD BLESS U ALL
I AM A STUDENT OF IPS GHANA, I ALSO HAVE A VERY BIG PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP
wonderful definitons of leader. A supereb collection and a marvelous work.
I was employed as a head in our establishments for almost a year i became a leader. i really enjoy it but quite problem in terms of definition yet i could define it through my action
hello!!! I really interesting in the leadership style, because i want to write science work about leadership in my country (it’s Ukraine)
I am from Balochistan a province of Pakistan ,these all definations are praising for leadership,unfortunately in pakistan any national can not fulfill or come upon these qualities .
I am from Blochistan a student of political sciene, FG degree college Quetta . I am agree with all the above mentioned definitions upon leadership unfortunately in pakistan any of the national leader can fulfill these qualities .they only depend upon confronting politics nothing at all.
I accept all definitions which have been presnted above. This acceptance based upon the wide area of using them as platforms needed to choose among them. No unique definition has been accepted to match differnet needs in management domain. Thus, the wide and diverse meanings put the users of such meanings in the relax thinking mode. The selecton, however, is very easy among many definitions choices.
I thank all the schoolars for their meaninfull and usefull defination of leadership, my prayer is for all Africa leader to behave as one mentioned above. (especially leaders in my country Nigeria)
I am Baktash KARGAR from Afghanistan studying International Plitics in China.Iam glad to find such definations about leadership in this page. Though I disagree some of the definations or idialogies about leadership but i like to know about if from different angles and points of views. I’m really intrested in studies about leadership and leadership itself.
1.planning
2.organizing
3.LEADING
4.co-ordinating
5.controlling
6.staffing
7.motivating
I am intrested in having contact with people who are intrested to my intrests. baktash12@hotmail.com
I am student of National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) Tanzania. I agree with all difinitions of Leadership because there is no single definition of leadership, In additions a leader should possess three different skills, Conceptual skill, human skill and technical skill, lack of one of these a leader will not be comprehensive for leadership approaches. There are policies, procedures theories and approaches which are so thechnical and others needs only experiences and human skills. “Advice” If you want to be a good Leader make sure you learn more about Leadership, in order to know how to motivate people to work effectively and efficiently to reach their goals and organisation goals. Anyone who want to contact with me matazen2006@yahoo.co.uk
i like the information given in each definition.it brings out an aspect that can be combined with another 2 or 3 definitions.
i am interested in coming up with Principles that can motivate women who are leaders or those that are interested in being leaders, to create a more equitable development in Zambia.Any papers or articles/books, contact me please: sharonchileshe@hotmail.com
Leadership sounds great when defined as a process where people are influenced by the leader to achieve a goal. It is however important to note that everybody has a sphere of influence and is therefore a leader. We therefore can talk of levels of leadership
Leadership is the ability to recognize what is right and encourage people to follow suit. The world will never be desired place to live if quality leadership is missing. Africa needs quality leaderhip to overcome her many challenges. I write from Nigeria.
Leadership is the ability to recognize what is right and encourage people to follow suit. The advanced countries of the world today will never be desired places to live if quality leadership is missing. Africa needs quality leadership to overcome her many challenges. I write from Nigeria.
I”m so glad of what I’ve leared about leadership. Please continue to gather more information that will help people on to become a good leader in their own use of self
I am willing to be the Governor of my state in Nigeria i.e Kwara State, To add to that definition of been a leader,A Leader is a good listener, who will never say “do it” rather a good leader will say “lets do it”.
I’m a student at Norton university,civil Enineering. I’m very interested in these definition of leadership. Especially I could get more knowledge to be a good leader.
But i still not sure about the specific meaning of leadership..If you have more info about it ,leave it here.
Thanks…..
“The mediocre Leader tells. The good Leader explains. The excellent Leader demonstrates. The great Leader inspires.”
I have completed Masters in Accounting from Dhaka University before 25 years earlier. I have been serving for specially society. I have the opportunity to know a lot of tremendus tips which is most essential to perform my job with skill hand. Thanks one for your nice job specially for me.
Reading all the definitions, I felt that almost all the areas were covered in the definitions. One thing which I want to emphasizeis that for a leader of any organization, country or any institution, the most outstanding personal quality should be his own self–as an honest, unbiased, compassionate human being,who is a critical thinker,and a visionary, at the same time.
Manoshi(ERD Faculty, Teachersity, New Delhi, India.)
but iam still ignor what is the leadership ?
i need points that ican flow to be leader in my job
leadership :a need for soul as well as shared value, a common soulmate for the team members.
i’m now seriously understand what leadership is.
I am a student of University of Ilorin, Kwara Sate,Nigeria. The definitions are ok. I really writing about personal development and leadership.So ho can i get more of this articles?you can contact me through my email address above.thank.emdy
The great leader always inspires-thankyou for the most wounderful quote collection
aweinspiring quotes useful in every context
I am a graduate in Organisation Development and current studying Appreciative Inquire and System Thinking in Ghana
I agree with Northouse,2004, Lussier &Achua, and D. Katz & Kahn,1978
Leadership is about influence!
I am Sumbul Rozyeva. I am 20 years old. I live in Turkmenistan in the region Lebap. I am working for American Company in my city. I love my motherland very much and respect all people that live in.
We can talk and write more and more about LEADERSHIP. And each of us will have different minds, which are useful.
I think that Good Leader must have such a TEAM (employees) that UNITED and FRIENDLY between each other.
THAT IS THE MAIN WEALTH OF GOOD LEADER, so then, they can achieve lots of big things TOGETHER.
I wish you all Good luck.
Thank you.
I am ANIT KUMAR from Bangladesh.I am a student of business administration..
thanks to all for this definitions.
A leader needs some worker for to lead to achieve a goal. but he needs to lead them in correct path and with correct decisions. So they will achieve the goal successfully, and with this that leader will be called as a successful leader.
My name is Steven Tahir. I am from Nigeria.
The word “Leadship” is the act of recognising urself and making people to find out their “YOUs” (i.e ability) and using it to actualise one “vision”. moving the organisation to achieving her goals and creating a landmark for the yet unborn leaders.
it is intersting comment which are invite for more coherant and healp to see overall aspects of leadership.we need leader today and in future which leads for shared goal and vision not for indivdualist and narrow group interst,this what i intersted in futute for african and follow human being servant leader which inspires for goodennes and achivabil with human tallent ..
Leadership is the process whereby a person who aspires to lead can manage resources available to him including human effort(followers),with the aim of achieving a common goal as set in the constitution which the live by.
Leadership is the process whereby a person who aspires to lead can effectively manage resources available to him including human effort(followers),with the aim of achieving common goals as set in the constitution by which they live.
I am QUADRI JIMOH from OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.
I realy love all d definition.
A leader needs some worker for to lead to achieve a goal. but he needs to lead them in correct path and with correct decisions. So they will achieve the goal successfully, and with this that leader will be called as a successful leader.
thatks a lot.
i am student at kigali indipendent unniversty in public Administration ,i want to become a good leader,I realy love all definition.I am olso interested to chat with someone administrativist
I dont understand about the leadership ,I n the asian country all the leader are crupt and ruled over the country without any qualities,but one important thing is rich.
But I dont understand the leadership and hte managenet man has many cell in the brain the creates many skills about all the power that God has given him.
solo se que cuanto mas sabes lo unico que ahces es seguir con lo que los sabios antiguos opnian o ya sabian todo loque dicen nuestros guru de ahora, en lo natural s encuentra la perfeccion , sal a ver la naturaleza y ahi veras y tendras todas las respustas que quieres y que quiere el mundo para viir en armonia y paz
para que ser un guru , sin no va a tener una buena moral y buena etica. eso lo encontraras en la madre naturaleza???????
soy ingeniero civil, master en gerencia empresarial, estudios de doctorado de ciencias de la filosofia
A person has a Vision & aware the Strategy to achieve this through the people by using universaly accepted values is a LEADER.
This process is LEADERSHIP.
I derived this from the life of Prophet Moahmed (SAL). For more details about Leadership pls refer his biography.
crtmgt@gmail.com
PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THE FACTORS THAT DETERMINE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING IN GHANA AND FIVE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU
I am really satisfied with the above definations. but i feel that one thing is missing here , the practical aproach and the applicability of above mention definations. But it is complete in all the way.
Hi Pal,
I just want to make the definition in Formula’s way. Leadership will complete by three concepts, Leader, Followers and situation.
Hello,
I had really appreceated the difination of leadership as you said , the important thing is we have motivate first our self as a role model so that it can be easy to lead a group or company as a effective leader.
May God bless u! I m from UET LAHORE, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN. here i want to tell u that all these definitions can be found practically in life of our HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H). so if any body is not getting a way to success in his plans he should directly concern himself with life-time.O.K Take much care of urself nd ur family.
[...] Anyway, I think there’s a dozen definitions in the website. You can check them in Leadership Definitions if you [...]
My name is Bushiri Joehans Mgimba, i real sarticified with the all definition but this one is funtacstic to me.
Leadership is the ability of developing and communicating clearly a vision to the people who gonna make that vision true
I am grateful for your various deffinition on Leadership, I must confess that this is an inspiration to you from God to make mankind know more of where they belong as touching relationship with each other either in the family, company. church and any cooperation.
Thanks and I said Keep up
I am called Edward Kissakye an Evangelist from Uganda. I am delighted for having gotten such useful data about leadership. I am going to teach and train my ministry members so that we become very effective and efficient leaders as we preach the Gospel in the nations of the world. God bless you abundantly
Thnk’s Kenneth Valenzuela, real good iniciative. Thnk’s to open possibilities to all abbilities and understandings, feelings and actions… The concepts of gurus and the ideas and intentions of interested peopel that had been written above demostrate your vision and beleifs about been leader. Good one. Learning by acting…
Leadership is a process that involves a leader who has a mission and a vision to lead others and the ability of those to be led to follow the process in order to achieve set goals and objectives. It is therefore a two way path involving the leader and those who are being led.
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