Is a process of influencing the activities of an Organised group for any goal achievement?

Originally written by Paul Thares, former SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist.

What is the definition of leadership?  If you asked 10 people this question you will probably get 10 different answers. Below are several definitions of leadership.

Common Definitions

Bing Dictionary

Noun

1. The action of leading a group of people or an organization.
2. The state or position of being a leader.

Synonyms: guidance - lead - direction - management - command

Business Dictionary

Leadership definitions (2):

1. The activity of leading a group of people or an organization or the ability to do this.

Leadership involves:

• establishing a clear vision,
• sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly,
• providing the information, knowledge and methods to realize that vision, and
• coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders.

A leader steps up in times of crisis, and is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations. Unlike management, leadership cannot be taught, although it may be learned and enhanced through coaching or mentoring. Someone with great leadership skills today is Bill Gates who, despite early failures, with continued passion and innovation has driven Microsoft and the software industry to success.

2. The individuals who are the leaders in an organization, regarded collectively.

WIkipedia Definition

Leadership has been described as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.

Leadership is "organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal". The leader may or may not have any formal authority. Studies of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others. Somebody whom people follow: somebody who guides or directs others.

So what is leadership?

So what is the definition of leadership? Influence, no more, no less…as John C. Maxwell (1993) states in his book Developing the Leader Within You What is leadership? Remove for a moment the moral issues behind it, and there is only one definition: Leadership is the ability to obtain followers. (p. 1) To paraphrase a proverb…If you think you are leading, and no one is following, you are only taking a walk.

Look at how you influence people around you and make a commitment to develop the ability to encourage, lead and inspire them. 

References:

• John C. Maxwell, (1993) Developing the Leader Within You. Nashville Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
• If Leadership is Influence, Are You a Leader?
• Leadership, Wikipedia
• Leadership, Business Dictionary
• Bing Dictionary

This week I was asked to explain the difference between leadership and management, and this is a fair question. Often, I use “leadership” and “management’ as interchangeable terms. Yet, there have been ample disagreements about the definition of each over the years, and the innate variance the terms hold. Thus, it seems helpful to reveal some key differences, and explain why the pairing of the two is most helpful to achieve our interpersonal, team, and corporate goals.

I should note, first and foremost, we are not comparing apples to apples here. Leadership is a notion, practice, term, ideology, etc., that has many spins, approaches, and theoretical concepts. In fact, “There are almost as many definitions of Leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept.” (Stogdill, 1974)

To further make this point, let’s take just two definitions of Leadership (from a lengthy list):

• Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement (Rauch & Behling, 1984, p.46)
• Leadership is “the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization…” (House et al., 1999, p. 184)

OK, back to our core premise: what is the difference between leadership and management?

Managers are concerned with doing things right. Their primary goal is to be efficient, and to make their teams efficient. Conversely, leaders are concerned with doing the right things. In this context, the “right things” means “to be effective” i.e., effectiveness.

Does this mean there’s no crossover? Of course not. But understanding the core can help us be conscience about the rhetorical nuances. (And their undeniable synergy, regardless of the mutual exclusivity.) It may be useful for you to know if your company places more importance on management or leadership. Further, you may want to understand if, as a manager, you will also be awarded credit for leading, not just managing.

While the core of these terms differs, this does not mean a single person cannot possess the skills to be both a manager and a leader.  Great minds have differentiated between the two – from core processes to intended outcomes. But rather than picking apart what each isn’t, let me give you some distinct differences for your own comprehension.

In the spirit of simplicity, I liken management and leadership to one of my runs in Central Park. Leadership is the long game – that is what’s going to get me home. My intended path, my pre-determined endurance, or the element-appropriate workout gear.  Management is what I do to test my agility, make sure my ankles don’t turn on rocks, and ensure I’ve taken the steps to prevent a muscle strain.

If my analogy didn’t do it for you…

Leaders influence relationships. There’s a defined line between leaders and followers – leaders are followed joyfully. Leaders seek change, and intentions are often very clear. Leaders are often charismatic, insightful, motivational, well-spoken, and practice truthfulness.

Managers tend to identify as authority figures and it's not uncommon to associate subordinates with managers. Management is correlated with a defined goal: team members are responsible for the selling of goods or services. Metrics are recorded and KPIs are crafted. Managers and their teams are also very closely correlated. It is rare to see a manager who has very little working knowledge of the task for which their subordinate is responsible. The idea of management is to provide a connected link, resource, and subject matter expert to the subordinate. 

Point is this: they're different, but I'd argue you need both (and that they work best in tandem). Why do you think a manager may be more effective with leadership traits, or vice versa? Understanding this for ourselves, and for the environments in which we work, will only lead to self-realization and further contentment among those we serve. 

Is a process of influencing a group to achieve goals?

Who said leadership is a process of influencing the activities of an Organised group?

What is organization influence?

What are the 4 types of leadership?