I read a lot on leadership (since board governance is a
form of leadership). I am struck by the number of authors who try to pin it
down to a few, (e.g., Kouzes and Pozner)—or many attributes. (John Maxwell
comes to mind). The numbers of ways people find to dice up leadership
boggles my mind …and confuses. It ranges from such terms as “influence” (not
helpful—too broad) to three or five items such as in Kouzes and Posner’s
“Five Principles,” to Maxwell’s 21, to …
That should tip us off that leadership is one of those
abilities we recognize when we see it, but trying to get a net around it is
another issue. Yet academics and consultants keep trying.
I would tend to describe “leadership” as a constellation of
attributes that equips and enables one to align and influence others to move
in the direction desired by the leader. Somehow successful movement
toward an objective should also be a criterion, since (successful) strategic
thinking is considered a vital attribute of leadership. And leadership is
definitely situational. Successful leadership in combat does not
(necessarily) translate to successful leadership in a nonprofit ministry
but, nonetheless, shares several attributes. Note, this “definition” so far
is value neutral. Good leadership adds virtue and values. I would
also add wisdom, as Biblically defined - thinking well is inextricably
intertwined with rectitude. So a good leader is virtuous and wise as well as
possessing a host of value-neutral attributes enabling aligned, directional,
successful influence.
Oh well. That is my
first, or twentieth, shot at it. And I haven’t begun to touch the components
of the attribute constellation.(Originally posted on our website Nov. 26, 2012)
RMB
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