What is leadership?

If you were to ask 100 people the question, "what is leadership", you would more than likely receive 100 different answers.  I would also propose that many of them would be surrounded by theme of directing, managing or being someone that "gets things done".  The online dictionary at reference.com says, a leader is "a person who guides or directs a group".  Websters says, "the office or position of a leader, capacity to lead, the act or an instance of leading."

I heard a definition this morning on the radio that was from Dwight D. Eisenhower, he said, "A leader is someone that takes all the blame when things go wrong, and finds someone else to give the credit to when things go right."  Interesting thought.  This is also similar to what Jim Collins describes in his book Good to Great, when he mentions "...the best leaders look in the mirror when things go wrong and they look outside the window when they go right..."

From these two individuals, who lived their adult lives nearly 40 years apart, the definition from them is a bit different then our originals.

The dictionary definitions, which I believe are nearly the common thoughts held about leadership in our society, is that it is about position, or ability or about directing people.  I am not saying those are false, just that they might not be entirely accurate and encompassing of what true leadership is.

When we hold leaders to only specific positions, or if we only think their role is to direct our guide, then we start to reveal why our nation and our world is starving for real leaders.  Leadership is not about position or power alone.  It isn't just about vision or guidance alone.  It isn't just about communication alone.  Even though all of those are vitally important for any leader to possess, leadership is open to all.  There are so many opportunities to lead in our lives, daily, that maybe the word courage should be used in our definition.

Here is our working definition.  Anytime, anyone, is in a position to influence the actions of another person, and they have the courage to do so, that is leadership.  That's it.  It is that simple.

Don't lose sight of the little moments, with family, your co-workers, your friends, and those you see as you experience life.  There are constant moments where you can say or do something that impacts those around you, and in that moment, and forever that they remember and use those teachings, you have executed leadership for the betterment of another.

Go ahead, get out there and lead!