![\"\"](\"http:\/\/create.twu.ca\/danielsportfolio\/files\/2018\/09\/Fotolia_76283005_S-700x467-300x158.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In his book Leadership<\/em> (2019) Peter Northouse gives us his definition of leadership, \u201cLeadership is the process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal\u201d (p. 5). I really enjoy the way Northouse describes leadership as a process and not a trait. As a process, leadership can be observed in leader behaviours and can be learned (Northouse, 2019, p. 7). This means that one can grow in their leadership abilities and that you\u2019re just not born with everything you need to know.<\/p>\n In regards to power, influence, group context and goal attainment, really the leader sets the pace in that. Power is the capacity or potential to influence (Northouse, 2019, p. 9). When there is an environment created based around the needs and desires of the employees and the company as a whole, then the leader will decide whether positional power in necessary in circumstances or personal power. However, these only work if you have influence over your staff \u2013 and I don\u2019t mean positional influence. Once this is figured out then leadership, within the context of the organization, has a place to flourish and when it flourishes then common goals will be identified and met. It really does start at the top and then trickle down.<\/p>\n In my personal experience as a pastor in The Salvation Army I used to have the mindset of \u201cLeave me alone in my little church and we\u2019ll do what we can. I don\u2019t really want your vision of the organization.\u201d Now, realizing that when the leader of the organization, actively has the growth of individuals and the saving of souls in their mind, it does trickle down to us on the ground. The same can be said for any organization, I think, if their boss, the head of the organization, isn\u2019t just playing \u201cleader\u201d but is a leader.<\/p>\n Question: How can we shift the mindset of those in our organizations from viewing us as being in “positions of power” to “leaders”?<\/strong><\/p>\n Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: theory and practice<\/em> (Eighth ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In his book Leadership (2019) Peter Northouse gives us his definition of leadership, \u201cLeadership is the process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal\u201d (p. 5). I really enjoy the way Northouse describes leadership as a process and not a trait. As a process, leadership can be observed in … <\/p>\n