1.2 Leadership Defined

Our descriptions of leadership sometimes depend upon the viewpoint we are taking or the different lenses we are using. These different viewpoints are reminiscent of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. As the story goes, six blind men from India went to discover for themselves what an elephant is. They each touched one part of the elephant to learn about its nature. One touched the tusk, another the trunk, another the ear, the tail and so on. They then came together to describe what they had felt and discuss what they had learned. They quickly discovered they were not in agreement and dissolved into an argument about the nature of the elephant. Although they did not describe the elephant in the same way, there was some truth in each of their reports. Similarly, leadership is comprised of many different aspects and dimensions.

To begin our discussion of defining leadership, let's turn to some of the great thought-leaders who have studied the topic deeply. We'll also consider the ideas of those who have successfully practiced leadership. Here are thirteen insightful quotes on leadership:

1. Warren Bennis, "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."

2. John Maxwell, "Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less."

3. Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it."

4. Stephen Covey, "The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, ‘Wrong jungle!'"

5. Bill Gates, "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."

6. John Quincy Adams, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader."

7. General John Michel, "Conviction, commitment, credibility: the three pillars of morally courageous leadership."

8. Peter Northouse, "Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal."

9. John Kotter, "Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite obstacles."

10. Stephen M.R. Covey, "The first job of any leader is to inspire trust."

11. Peter Drucker, "The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers."

12. Harvey Firestone, "The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership."

13. Joseph Rost, "Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes."

Some of the most common themes that emerge from those attempting to define leadership include: (1) envisioning a new future, (2) engendering shared purpose and trust, and (3) influencing, inspiring, lifting, and empowering others toward accomplishing a common goal. Given this, we define leadership as follows:

Leadership Leadership is creating a positive vision of the future; building relationships of trust; and inspiring, orchestrating, and empowering a group of followers to make that vision a reality. is creating a positive vision of the future; building relationships of trust; and inspiring, orchestrating, and empowering a group of followers to make that vision a reality.

Fundamental to leadership is the creative process. Leadership includes creating an idea and then working with others to make that idea a reality. It involves having a dream about a better future state that comes from a passion within. Before the 1964 Act was created, Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream." The vision was first created in the heart and mind. Then came the challenge of working with others to translate that dream into reality.

Implied in this definition is the notion that the vision is not self-centered nor destructive, but rather it is positive in the sense that it's about a goal that is larger than self, something that builds and lifts in a positive direction. Leadership inspires and is enabled through relationships of trust.

At its core essence, leadership is influence. The ability to influence includes inspiring, orchestrating, and empowering others. Influencing through inspiring the heart of others, orchestrating the processes, and empowering others to help people grow and develop.

Leadership typically includes a group of followers who share in the vision or goal. Importantly leadership includes an aspect of being results-oriented so that the vision doesn't die as just an idea, but rather is worked toward fruition so that it eventually is implemented.