30. Leadership Definition
There is no one widely accepted definition of the word, "leadership" among scholars.
Makes it more difficult to integrate research
Common elements: a group, a goal, influence
Key issues: management vs. leadership, leaders vs. leadership, authority and leadership, and morality and leadership
A Sample of Definitions of Leadership
"Leadership is persuading other people to set aside for a period of time their individual concerns and pursue a common goal that is important for the responsibilities and welfare of the group." (Robert Hogan, Gordon J. Curphy, and Joyce Hogan, 1994)
"Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes that reflect their mutual purposes."(Joseph C. Rost, 1991)
"Leadership is an interaction between two or more members of a group that often involves restructuring of the situation and the perceptions and expectations of its members."
"Leadership is the process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals." (Roach and Behling, 1984)
"Leadership is an activity or set of activities, observable to others, that occurs in a group, organization, or institution involving a leader and followers who willingly subscribe to common purposes and work together to achieve them." (Kenneth E. Clark and Miriam B. Clark, 1994)
“Leadership is defined to include influencing task objectives and strategies, influencing commitment and compliance in task behavior to achieve these objectives, influencing group maintenance and identification, and influencing the culture of an organization. The terms leader and manager are used interchangeably."(Gary Yukl, 1989)
"Leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by the leader and his or her followers." (John Gardner, 1991)
"Leadership is the ability to get men to do what they don't want to do, and like it." (Harry Truman)