Definition, week 4

Last week's definition: Leadership means being a role model in command of one's role, whether officially defined, or unofficially formed by distinctive traits that make one successful.

This week's definition: Leadership means stepping up and taking on a deliberate approach to guide subordinates toward goals while providing them with hope, stability, compassion, and trust.

This week's definition changed due to the course readings. For example, in Daniel Goleman's "Leadership that Gets Results" several approaches to leadership were explored in detail, noting the benefits and drawbacks of each. These approaches included the coercive, authoritative, affiliative, pacesetting, coaching and democratic styles, all of which demonstrate excellent qualities of leadership that convinced me that leadership involves composed roles played by the leader in question. Rath and Conchie's article noted that people look for the qualities of hope, stability, compassion, and trust in a leader; therefore, a leader is one who instills these qualities in those who follow along with leading in such a defined method.

References:
Goleman, Daniel (2000). "Leadership that Gets Results." Harvard Business Review, 78(2), 78-90.
Rath, T. & Conchie, B. (2009). "Understanding why people follow." Strengths based leadership: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow. (pp. 79 - 85). New York: Gallup Press.