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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on September 27, 2009 at 1:12pm

Before you try and define what "leadership" means How about defining what a leader is....? No, I do not mean someone who gets picked or elected to a position....I mean one who earns the position and the respect that goes with it. One cannot demand respect one has to earn it....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on September 27, 2009 at 6:30pm

I define leadership first, because it's a process, or an action, that anyone can do. Being picked, elected, or even promoted to a position does not make a person a leader.

Because I believe that leadership is a process, or a course of action, that anyone can do, I would define a leader as “the catalyst that creates action toward a desired outcome.” They are the “spark” that ignites people to do things. Their insight, initiative, and influence, sometimes combined with courage, impact others to cause change. Being that "spark" is what earns them respect.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on September 27, 2009 at 9:05pm

Part of Leadership includes having the courage to listen to opinions that do not necessarily coincide with your own.

That also includes having the courage to openly discuss a variety of opinions in public, without censorship.
I'd recommend this discussion for examples of how it's done - and not done.

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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on September 27, 2009 at 9:54pm

I personally think that leadership is more than just persuading people to act together for a common goal; it is also the process and ability to make those people truly want to acomplish that objective or goal. you can persuade people to do something just by being there superior, and they may follow you on that reason only; but a true leader makes those people take the cause as there own and give there all to achieve it.

TCSS

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on September 28, 2009 at 6:50pm

Billyly, I can accept your simple definition of leadership, as a starting point. What I have trouble with is your statement "a process, or an action, that anyone can do". That "anyone can do" - perhaps, but only if viewed in the same way that one can say 'anyone can be a computer programmer' - both are true as long as it's remembered that there are good programmers and terrible programmers.

I've met many 'leaders', I've not met nearly as many good leaders. Too many people seem to think that 'leadership' is the same as 'management'. For me that isn't true, a 'manager', by virtue of his/her position can tell people what to do. A 'manager' can order people to do something, with the big-stick approach of if you don't do what I say then you can walk out through the door.

I agree with what the other posters have said. Respect has to be earned. Respect is not the 'right' of anyone who is promoted to a position, whether that promotion is in a career move or peer ‘selection by election’. I have seen people promoted to simply get them out of a position they are unable to handle – promoted beyond their capabilities, to a position where hopefully they won’t cause trouble. I have seen people elected because they are a ‘friend’, elected because of their progression in a non-related field seems to show they ‘know what they’re doing’. To be respected is a part of good leadership.

“Leadership” an action or process that anyone can do? I have to disagree with that. I think it comes from perhaps an innate ability, one that not every person possesses. A big part of that ability being very much what Ben said in his post.

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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on September 28, 2009 at 9:57pm

Billy, I have to disagree on your statement that's it's a "anyone can do". My opinion is, you must be a good leader first! You cant put the cart before the horse. I believe that before you can display leadership, one must know how to lead first! Leadership will follow and and be evident to the ones their leading, and one hopes it will be contagious. Now we all know we are losing good leaders and departments are promoting, either on the good ole boy system, or desperate to fill a position. I've seen leaders that couldn't even lead a cub scout troop ,no offense to cub scouts of coarse. Leadership will show, once the fruit is ripe.(leader)

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Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on September 30, 2009 at 9:07am

Absolutely. As I mentioned in my first post, leadership means many things to many people. All of us have a different view based on our own experiences. Seems the one thing we call agree on is that we need more good leadership today. I look forward to hearing others' opinions which will help me reflect on my own.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on September 30, 2009 at 9:14am

Right on, Wade. Sometimes "bad" leaders persuade people to move in a certain direction, even when they don't want to. I like that, "take the cause as their own." Ownership is vital to keep people on board for the long-term.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on September 30, 2009 at 9:52am

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Does leadership make a leader, or does a leader provide leadership? It's a two-part formula, no doubt. Guess the question might be, "Can leadership be learned, or is it something people are born with? How and where do they learn to lead?" Many answers to that question, I'm sure. Would be another great discussion.

Could not anyone provide leadership (be a leader)? Sometimes it may be just one act that starts the movement, or creates the leader. Example: The unknown man who faced down the tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989. He created a world-wide response (action) through his courageous stand. Many people believe he was a leader (although no one knows what happened to him after that).

http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/rebel.html

An example that is closer to home would be the firefighter who steps forward and speaks up and saves the crew during an unexpected event at a fire, such as a collapse. I would consider that a showing of leadership.

So, I think anyone can have that leader trait in them, and yes, we do need more "good" leaders!

What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Rhonda McGuire on September 30, 2009 at 3:00pm

There is a distinction between being a leader and leadership. Anyone can "lead", but not everyone can be a leader. I had the privelege of hearing former General Colin Powell speak at a Leadership conference, and he provided this around leadership: "Real leaders make themselves accessible and available. They show concern for the efforts and challenges faced by underlings-even as they demand high standards. Accordingly, they are more likely to create an environment where problem analysis replaces blame." Many people claim to be a leader, but many of them leave behind a lot of "dead bodies" in their wake. A leader prompts team work, cooperation, enables his followers, and empowers them. Sometimes a leader may need to correct one of the people they lead. A good leader works with them to improve the situation, not place blame on any one person or thing. It follows the old philosophy of learning from our mistakes. Being a leader is something I don't believe that can be learned. I believe it is inherent within the person, as the person who leads must value people. There are many who make great individual contributors (they can accomplish a lot in their own time and space), but when you put this type of person over others, then they often fail because they don't have the abilities to uplift their people. They may get all the work done, but if the people following them are miserable, and feel like they just a number, then that is a poor leader. Just my thoughts.

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