The World of Leadership Definitions

A quick Google search for “What is Leadership?” brings up 767,000,000 responses.

That is 767 million people trying to define leadership. Amazing.

It is very clear that instead of one definition, there are many. Many situations, many people, many contexts where leadership means different things. 

It MUST mean different things because the type of leader you want during a forest fire is very different from the leader you want during ballet practice. Both are leading, but perhaps differently.

At a granular level, leadership definitions fall into a spectrum with two ends.

At one end, “I will do it” is the arch-type of the military hero-leader. First to the front. First to explore. First to step up under fire. The “I will do it” leader is, as John Maxwell suggests, the one who “knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, there is the “You can do it” leader. This leader is the arch-type of the coach or guide. They encourage, empower, inspire, and draw out potential. The “you can do it” leader gets people beyond their present circumstances without even going there themselves.

Then there is the middle: 767 million options according to Google. The millions of variations of how much to direct and how much to support. The context and timing and resourcing and environments and psychological safety that make up the world of active leadership. 767 million data points on a little black line.

So start somewhere on the spectrum. Go first or empower those around you. Either way, Lead. 

Where are you on the spectrum? In your current role with your current responsibilities, where are you saying “I can do it” and where are you saying “You can do it”? 

What is on your desk today that you can launch someone else into, and where do you need to step out front?