Defining Leadership

Leaders don’t force peopleto follow; they invite them on a journey.

~Charles s. Lauer

Tobegin to explore this very important journey we must explain the distinction ofleadership. Everyone knows that allleaders start from within. So first wemust start with ourselves. According tothe Oxford Dictionary, leadership is the action of leading a group of people oran organization or the ability to do this. And, to lead is to cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holdingthem by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc…while moving forward. Leadership therefore requires influence, directions and action, So, for leadership to manifest so that others follow, it stands to reason that the leader, whoever or whatever that may be, must first influence themselves, give self-direction and act on that direction.

Another definition of leadership is having the heart of a servant, combined strengthand courage of a lion with the kindness and compassion of a lamb. Leadership is where, how and who you takeinto your team. Each of these havespecifics, where-your mission and vision, how-your knowledge of the leadershipprinciples and skills and who the people who follow you. “True leadership must be for the benefit ofthe follower not for the enrichment of the leaders”. Author Unknown. It mimics the concept of doing things forothers without expecting recognition. Atrue leader does not think about how decisions will benefit them, they thinkabout the impact it will have on others. Influence is the foundation of leadership and relationships are thefoundation for influence. Leadership isthe art of gathering people around a common purpose then inspiring, motivatingand mobilizing them to achieve it. Thisis where the journey begins.