Colleagues,
On June 30, 2002, I opened a dialog on leadership among this community. The conversation lasted a full six weeks.
I intended to develop a synthesis and share it. Perhaps four years later is sufficient.
The result is presented in ordered lists of characteristics. That is, I've presented options, not conclusions. The breadth of list serve contributions have been expanded significantly through a process of my own named "Intrinsics."
I've copied the Definitions section in-line, below. A teaser.
Since it would not be appropriate to post the entire document here, you'll have to ask for the result.
In exchange, I hope you will offer comments and additions. This attempt certainly has not exhausted the subject.
Best to all,
Gary
...........................................
Definitions
Lead
· Influence others to take a certain path.
· Show the way. Guide.
· Influence someone in some way.
Leader
· A person or organization able to build sufficient commitment to a vision to initiate a specific desired change or influence the direction of broad change.
· One who consistently achieves results through a followership.
· One who has chosen or has been chosen to lead.
· The person at the head of a line. The person or group in the vanguard of a movement.
· Leaders may be: individuals, teams, organizations, cultures, nations, or alliances thereof. Leaders may be found in at least: industry, government, the military, education, religion, media, and the arts.
Leadership: All leadership is change leadership. All leaders are agents of change. Leaders initiate change; management sustains change.
· The capacity to initiate change through influence. ("Influence" implies potential affects on both the character and actions of people and organizations. Both who they are and what they do.)
· The capacity to initiate carefully chosen changes.
· The capacity to initiate positive changes thoughtfully designed to deliver value to all key stakeholders. (value-driven leadership)
· A synergistic dynamic that affects others through influence. A force producing change (dynamic) via simultaneous action of separate agencies (synergism) through the power of persons or things to affect the characters and/or actions of people (influence). (Edward Hampton, University of Central Florida)
· A field of influence (analogous to a magnetic field) that affects the behaviors of individuals and groups of people. (The field may be organic – coming from a person or group, and/or inorganic – coming from rules, laws, policies, organization structures, etc.) (Edward Hampton)
· The sum of choice, clarity, commitment, and change. (Four-C's Leadership™)
Choice: Selection of change to pursue.
Clarity: Strong, positive, multi-faceted, and marketable articulation of the vision for change.
Commitment: Building of consensus to and ownership by others in that vision. Recruiting active participation in achieving the vision
Change: Development of strategy, choice of tactics, acquisition of resources, removal of barriers, and delegation of implementation.
· Establishing a direction and influencing others to move in that direction.