Leadership concepts and practices

Leadership can be defined as "a complex social-influence process involving leaders and followers (all members of an organized group) interacting in a way that serves to achieve common, shared goals." In my opinion, this is the definition that fits best, because it is able to cover the most important elements that a leadership mechanism and framework should encompass.

First of all, leadership is a "complex social-influence process," which means that it is not a one-entity or one-variable process, but that it involves a large number of social entities (individual) that interact. Further more, the process is a process of social-influence, which means that the leader, as a charismatic and knowledgeable individual, will impose or influence his way of thinking and his strategic vision on the rest of the individual within an organization or community.

In fact, the second part of the definition introduces the two categories of individuals that are part of the leadership process: leaders and followers. The leaders conceive a vision for the community (be it company, organization, country, religious community etc.), define the strategic objectives and the strategic plans by which this vision can be achieved and propose these with the followers.

The followers, on the other hand, are part of an organized group, which is an important note, because it means that they will be striving to achieve common goals, exactly the goals proposed by the leadership. Further more, the followers will be working together to achieve those goals and to reach the common vision presented by the leadership.

Finally, the last part of the definition of leadership contains elements that have been previously been mentioned: the interaction between the leaders and the followers (in fact, the interaction within these categories as well) and the common goal of achieving the set objectives. In terms of the first part here, leaders and followers do obviously interact, not only at the beginning of the process, but along the way as well. Leaders will try to motivate followers, will keep reminding them of the common objectives and will also create the capacities to train followers for better future performances (from military drilling, in the case of a professional army, to training sessions in the case of a business organization).

Second of all, the common goal in the case of all groups of individuals containing leaders and followers is to achieve the common objectives. This will be translated through the need to concentrate all resources and all capacities towards this sense. As we can see, the definition is likely to be very complete and encompass all different aspects.

As a political leader, we can refer to Napoleon Bonaparte and his actions as First Consul and Emperor of the French. The shared goal with his followers was to promote the French Revolution ideals in Europe through continental domination and, at the same time, to bring glory to the country and its army. Napoleon's soldiers, the 'followers', believed in the ideals of French supremacy and glory in Europe and fought for 20 years to achieve it, from Spain to Russia.

As a community leader, Martin Luther King is an example of how the interests of a community (in this case of a minority) could be promoted and defended through direct action. Again, the social component is very important in characterizing this leadership example, as well as the common objectives that the followers and leader strived to achieve.

As a religious leader, Mohammed is the best example of the social interaction between leader and followers to achieve common goals. The common goals were the propagation of Islam as the most important religion in the world. Even today, following Koran verses, a Muslim will strive to impose his religion and to convert non-Muslims. He is also an excellent example of how a powerful leader was able to increase his number of followers through the objectives he had set out for them and, especially, through the common vision with which they were able to identify.