Leadership definition

Traditionally leadership has been described in the context of the leader having certain traits- physical , mental or cognitive . Some of the newer research and literature is focusing on the ‘process ‘ definition of leadership. There is no widely accepted definition of leadership .

Northouse (2016) defines leadership as- “ a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal “

 

Leadership as a process

To me this means a number of things: first that it is a 2 way exchange, between leader and follower ; secondly it is not a one time event, but rather a continuum of that exchange ; thirdly the roles of leader and follower are dynamic, allowing interchange in different situations .

 

Power

Traditionally , power has been considered to be synonymous with leadership, and leaders are thought to be the wielders of power ( Northouse, 2016 ). Notably though, Northouse does not mention power in his definition of leadership , and I agree with its omission. I don’t think power is a valuable component of the leadership process. But having worked in organizations with assigned leaders , we all understand that it still retains its influence in hierarchical organizations or institutions .

 

Influence

In my opinion influence is power. Influence comes from a leader being able to understand his followers, connect with them , and earn their respect.

Influence has to be differentiated from coercion .  A good leader has /should have the capability to influence his followers willingly towards attainment of a common goal.

 

Group context

For a leader to be effective, he has to be able to influence a group of people towards change. This influence does not necessarily have to extend to the entire group at the same time . A leader can connect with and influence individuals , and/or a collective for the advancement towards a common goal

 

Goal attainment

Achievement of goals , organizational or personal, is the measure of a leader’s capacity to influence. Organizational goals like productivity, sales etc. are important objective measures of a leader’s capacity to lead. But there are less tangible measures of a leader’s ability, like well-being of followers, community contribution, individual growth and empowerment of followers, all of which are equally important.

 

My question :

What do you think is the role of power in the modern definition of leadership ?