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Unfortunately, most dictionaries don t really help us. For example, one actually d
efines leadership as:
The ability to lead.
Thankfully, Wikipedia is more helpful. It says that leadership is:
A process of social influence in which one person
canenlist the aid and support of others in the
accomplishment of a common task.
Another answer to what is leadership, by Akhil Shahani, puts it more simply as:
The process by which a person influences others
to accomplish an objective.
Leadership definition
Elements of Leadership
I find these interesting because they contain two essential elements of what is
leadership; the people elements and the task elements (related to objectives). E
very successful leader has to work with both of these.
But I am concerned that these leadership definitions involve a common task or objec
tive . These words suggest that the end goal is already provided, clearly defined
or laid down. Leadership doesn t always have the luxury of such clearly stated pur
poses. Sometimes leaders and followers evolve these together, with the leader co
nsulting others to gather opinion and win support.
I prefer to think of leaders as providing direction (that is, a dream
l future or a vision ) which may then be crystallised into a "common
ctives, perhaps involving some of the followers in doing so. But here
ching on the idea of leadership style . And thats for another part of
e.
So, lets have another go at defining what is leadership.
More definitions
of an idea
goal" and obje
we are tou
the websit