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Define Leadership
Home » Leadership » Leadership 101 » Define LeadershipMerriam-Webster Dictionary defines leadership simply as the office or position of a leader; the capacity to lead; or the act or an instance of leading. And the dictionary defines a leader as a person who leads; a person who has commanding authority or influence.
But we can all agree that Leadership is so much more than that. Based on that definition, could you toss someone into a leadership position and expect him to stay afloat? Surely not.
One source says that leadership is best defined as trying to influence the behavior of another person. This occurs in business when you influence employees, members, or followers to carry out the goals of the company, organization, or group. And that’s the difference between a leader and a dictator: The dictator demands that things be done; the leader motivates, encourages, requests, and usually gets the action he or she wants because of a certain set of characteristics he or she employs. This new style of leadership, common in today’s businesses and organizations, values the individual. Leadership is based on creating a vision for the company, then on helping employees learn what they need to realize the vision. The new leadership style focuses on the value of people and emphasizes empowering people.
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