Leadership Definitions
by Ken Valenzuela, BeALeader.Net's Chief Editor
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)
- “Leadershipo 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.
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?
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
amanya amon
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.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:30 amSelamu
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.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:45 amShemdoe,Stanley
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.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pmSon Bora
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.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:53 amProf. Dr. Maung Maung Soe
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.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:08 amWe 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
Parvez Babul
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
October 14th, 2008 at 3:35 amBro eucharistus
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.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:24 amBarisi Nwigbara
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.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:47 amKuch Vannak
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.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:49 amSuy Vannak
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.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 ammercy davids
am a student who study ay daystar university kenya.am take development studies.am particulary worried at the current trend of leadership in afica.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:59 amTint Lwin
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)
November 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pmAhsan Qazi
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
November 5th, 2008 at 2:02 amMosbil A. Agha
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.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:16 amnyamafu the great
Im university student, at mkwawa university in iringa, taking political science
November 8th, 2008 at 4:29 amall 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
Athena
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”
November 8th, 2008 at 10:22 amChea
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.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pmbye bye!
BIINGI SAUDA
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.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:41 amminh trang
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
November 17th, 2008 at 3:01 am