In the Community of Learners group to which I belong, our topic of discussion yesterday was leadership. What do we mean by leadership? What is the essential task of a leader? What is the essence of leadership? What are the convening issues that motivate leaders to ask for help? A huge topic–way too much to cover in one conversation. We agreed to continue our exploration at a future gathering.

If you scan the the business section of your local bookstore or library, you’ll find many titles that reference leadership in one form or another. A recent search using the key words leadership books on www.amazon.com resulted in a selection of over 22,000 options. A Google search of the key words leadership training turned up over 24,000,000 listings! Obviously, there is a lot of interest in leadership these days. But what exactly is leadership?

Dictionary.com lists four definitions (noun):

1. the position or function of a leader: He managed to maintain his leadership of the party despite heavy opposition.
2. ability to lead: She displayed leadership potential.
3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: They prospered under his leadership.
4. the leaders of a group: The union leadership agreed to arbitrate.

Not too helpful. Here are a few more definitions for your consideration:

• The online encyclopedia, Wikipedia lists several definitions for leadership, including the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task” and “Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.”
• James Kouzes and Barry Posner (The Leadership Challenge, 2007) define leadership as “a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow.”
• John Maxwell (Developing the Leader Within You, 1993) says that “leadership…has to do with casting vision and motivating people.”
• In Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way (2008), authors Jeffrey Liker and Michael Moseus cite Toyota’s internal document, The Toyota Way 2001, when they describe “thoughtful leaders” who are defined as “[having] the ability to energize and invigorate others, willing giving realistic challenges and developmental opportunities and fostering a sense of accomplishment in subordinates.”
• Founder and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Leadership, Rayona Sharpnack defines leadership as “the ability to speak, listen and evoke action on behalf of a compelling future.”
• At the recent Learning Leaders Symposium, I heard leadership defined as “the ability to change, direct, or affect the behavior of others without ordering or threatening.”

Do these definitions fit with your experience? How would you define leadership?

[tags] leadership, James Kouzes, Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge, social influence, John Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, Jeffrey Liker, Michael Moseus, Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way, Institute for Women’s Leadership, Rayona Sharpnack, Leaders Learning Symposium [/tags]