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Please define: Leadership.
During my time analysing, writing about, and assisting with the development of leadership, I have heard many, many people attempt to define it. There are so many books on leadership, so many "authorities" and "experts", yet we can't seem to agree on a definition.
Shall we attempt to do so today? :)
Closing Statement from Gareth Armstrong
Hello everyone,
Thank you all for your input.
My conclusion - I feel like we are going to struggle if we are unable to speak a "common leadership language"...if we cannot define leadership, how can we multiply leadership within ourselves and others?
I hope that as you have reflected on how to define it, you have further clarified in your mind where you can further improve as a leader be it in your home, community, or professional environment.
Your comments have assisted me in this way and others. Thank you again.
Sincerely and with warmest regards,
Gareth
Don Anderson 20+
kathy conway
Lejan . 30+
John Penn
Terry Torok 100+
Jacquinot Bilongo
Laszlo Kereszturi 500+
He proved leadership without having entrepreneurship skills, basically all his business ventures failed:
"Away from his expeditions, Shackleton's life was generally restless and unfulfilled. In his search for rapid pathways to wealth and security he launched many business ventures and other money-making schemes, none of which prospered. His financial affairs were generally muddled; he died heavily in debt."
Tom Preusser
The correct "direction" is ultimately the one that is best for all stakeholders, with stakeholders being defined very broadly.
Would you rather have a good leader going in the wrong direction or a poor leader going in the right direction? I would rather have the latter - ie errors of omission rather than errors of commission.
Wiith this in mind a discussion of good leadership should center on how do you get leaders that can discern or sense the correct direction to lead.
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
Kate Blake 50+
But the leadership that appeals most to me is those that I see lead innately. Those with real qualities that simply demand respect, one admires them so much you want to follow their lead eg Mother Teresa, Mahatma Ghandi, Dalai Lama. Two of those are religious affiliated and I've only just realised they all came to fame in india! They are just the public figures most would know but we see such inspiring leaders in sports, workplace, teachers, friends, etc.
People with the ability to communicate their ideal clearly, usually one with a more universal appeal, and then inpsire others to join their cause. Or ones that see a gap in services, a need for others, and innately step up with viable solutions that resonate with others who rally to their bidding. Not mindlessly but with carefully thought out enthusiasm.
Barry Palmer 50+
It is teaching people the objectives, and the means to those objectives, that are in the peoples' best interest. The people will then willingly, vigorously and enthusiastically pursue those objectives. This has the appearance of following a leader, but only because the leader was pursuing the interests of the people.
Gail . 50+
Chetan Somani
Salim Solaiman 50+
Mathew Naismith 10+
Leadership is when someone takes charge over others or circumstances & leads not necessarily by example but by knowing what they are doing. A good leader will have good communicative skills with everyone below & higher in stature than them & is able to be impartial to any given event or person.
Love
Mathew
Luis Javier Salvador 30+
Linda Taylor 50+
Fritzie Reisner 100+