What is Leadership? Adapted Article ...( used 2/3 in class)

What is Leadership?

Adapted from http://www.corwin.com/upm-data/15104_Rowe_Chapter_01.pdf

CEOs (leaders in companies) tell us that their most pressing need is for more leaders in their organizations—not the consummate (those showing a high degree of skill) role-players who seem to surround them.

—Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones

Gary Yukl (2006) defines leadership as “the process of influencing others to

understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the

process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared

objectives” (p. 8). Peter Northouse (2007) defines leadership as “a process whereby an

individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.” These definitions

suggest several components central to the phenomenon of leadership. Some of them are as

follows:

• Leadership is a process
• leadership involves influencing others
• leadership
• happens within the context of a group
• leadership involves goal attainment, and
• these goals are shared by leaders and their followers.

The very act of defining leadership as a process suggests that leadership is not a characteristic or trait with which only a few, certain people are endowed (designed/given) with at birth. Defining leadership as a process means that leadership is a transactional event meaning one with an observable exchange that happens between leaders and their followers.

Viewing leadership as a process means that leaders affect and are affected by their followers

either positively or negatively. It stresses that leadership is a two-way, interactive

event between leaders and followers rather than a linear, one-way event in which the

leader only affects the followers. Defining leadership as a process makes it available to

everyone—not just a select few who are born with it. More important, it means that leadership

is not restricted to just the one person in a group who has formal position power

(i.e., the formally appointed leader).

Leadership is about influence—the ability to influence your subordinates, your peers,

and your bosses in a work or organizational context. Without influence, it is impossible to

be a leader. Of course, having influence means that there is a greater need on the part of

leaders to exercise their influence ethically.

Leadership operates in groups. This means that leadership is about influencing a group

of people who are engaged in a common goal or purpose.

Read the article. Pay special attention to the bold words. Many are defined in context. While reading make notes on the article, annotate it so you UNDERSTAND what leadership means.

In order to truly digest information you take in you MUST be able to teach others what you have learned with clarity of content and purpose.

Action Notes:

Notes While Reading: