Leadership (Definition and Types)

Generally, the ability to motivate or persuade others to act in a certain way in order to achieve a goal. Leadership creates a relationship between the leader and those following. Because of this, leaders both shape their followers and are shaped by their followers. A leader's actions result in some sort of response from his or her followers, which in turn also affects his or her ability to take future actions. Thus, leadership is a mutual process of influence between the leader and the followers.

Frequently mentioned characteristics of good leaders include vision, the ability to communicate a vision, commitment to the cause of the organization, and the ability to inspire trust. Other positive leadership characteristics cited include everything from self-confidence, to courage, to flexibility.

There are many theories of leadership. One of these is the idea that leadership style is not fixed but should be adapted to different situations. This is explored in contingency theory and situational theory. For example, the job of a public school superintendent is different from that of a college department chair. How a leader will lead depends on many factors, including how willing and how able the followers are to do a good job. Thus, the leader's style may change depending on the situation. Trait theory suggests that leaders possess innate personal qualities that distinguish them from others. Most often, traits are considered to be inherent from birth, and on this basis, trait theory supports the belief that good leaders are born, not made. Behaviorist theories of leadership, on the other hand, suggest that leadership is defined by action and behavior rather than by personality. As such, leaders need not be born great but can learn to be great leaders through observation and practice. Higher-education programs in leadership support the notion that individuals can be trained to be good leaders. A further branch of research that examines the relationships between leaders and followers is found in the transformational theory of leadership. A transformational leader is focused on achieving a goal while at the same time concerned with the welfare of the individuals he or she is leading. The transformational leader wants his or her followers to believe in and help achieve the mutual goal, but he or she also wants the followers to reach their potential. For more information, see Bolman and Deal (1997).