Definition of leadership(3)

At times the whole team may follow someone, but whom the team follows rotates from task to task among the members that the team finds capable. The Orpheus team even has developed seminars and training sessions for adapting the Orpheus Process to business.

Other varieties of leadership

The word "leadership" can mean a collective group of leaders, or it can mean the special if not mystical characteristics of a celebrity (compare hero). Yet other usages have a leadership which does not lead, but to which one simply shows respect (compare the courtesy title reverend). Aside from the prestige-role sometimes granted to inspirational leaders, a more mundane usage of the word "leadership" can designate "current front-runners": someone can for a time take over the lead in a race, for example; or a corporation or a product can hold a position of market leadership.

In would-be controlling groups such as political parties, ruling elites, and other belief-based enterprises like religions or business, the idea of leadership can become a Holy Grail and people can come to expect transformational change stemming from the leader; such entities encourage their followers and believers to worship leadership, to respect it, and to strive to become proficient in it. Followers in such a situation may become uncritically obedient. Note the different connotations of a synonym of the word "leader" adopted from the German: Führer, and its acompanying ideas on the Führerprinzip which proliferated a hierarchy of leaders. Alternatives to

the cult of leadership include co-operative ventures, collegiality, consensus, anarchism and democracy.

Aristocratic thinkers have postulated that leadership depends on one's blue blood or genes. Contrariwise, more democratically-inclined theorists have pointed to examples of meritocratic leaders, such as the Napoleonic marshals profiting from careers open to talent. In similar fashion, traditionalists recall the role of leadership of the Roman pater familias; against which feminist thinking posits emotionally-attuned, responsive, and consensual empathetic guidance.

Many organizations aim to identify, foster and promote leadership potential or ability. See for example the Scouting movement.

For a more general take on leadership in politics, compare the concept of the statesman.

Scientific theories of leadership

?Fiedler contingency model

?Leadership participation model

?Path-goal model

?Situational leadership theory

?Trait theory

?Functional leadership model

?Managerial grid model

Also see

?coaching

?leadership development

?followership

?Anarchism - opposition to leadership.

External links

?Capability Development & Organisational Development Experts (http://www.ott-consulting.co.uk)

?Leadership training resources ()

?Charcateristics of leaders and leadership (/leader.html)

?Narcissistic leaders (/15.html)

References

?Argyris, C. (1976) Increasing Leadership Effectiveness, Wiley, New York, 1976. (Even though this is 30 years old, it is still a "standard" reference text.)

?Bennis, W. (1989) On Becoming a Leader, Addison Wesley, New York, 1989.

?Machiavelli, The Prince, 1530 (http://digital.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=1232)

?Pitcher, P. (1994 French) Artists, Craftsmen, and Technocrats: The dreams realities and illusions of leadership, Stoddart Publishing, Toronto, 2nd English edition, 1997. ?Roberts, W. (1987) Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun.

?Stacey, R. (1992) Managing Chaos, Kogan-Page, London, 1992.

?Zaleznik, A. (1977) "Managers and Leaders: Is there a difference?", Harvard Business Review, May-June, 1977.

?Laubach, R. (2005) Leadership is Influence. .