25 Things Leadership is not…
We have many definitions of leadership in the public forum today. When closely examined it becomes apparent most are antiquated models of refurbished industrial paradigms of traits, behavioral, or group assumptions. Leadership development programs with their insatiable appetite to muddy the water more, concentrate their efforts only on leaders in their attempt to define leadership.
It is evident our fixation with leadership as a “Influential Person with extra-ordinary social and intellectual skills” garners most simulated discussions. These conversations appear scholarly but they are infested with novice anti-theoretical suggestions. We are bombarded with metaphoric stories, and grandeur of futuristic celebration as we wait patiently for the next great leader.
While the enormous list of scholars and practitioners also parade this misnomer the unsuspecting public remain in the dark. We are cocooned in a bowl of intended disagreements. The disorganization which surrounds a consensus definition has creates the perfect storm for fictitious shenanigans. Each definition is considered as good as the next, and so we labor in deciding which best suit our personal and organization growth like a suit or dress.
I have compiled a list of inaccurate leadership definitions from periodicals, books, online forums and conversations. I will supply in segments for frustration and boredom would accompany the full list…
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25 Things Leadership is not…
(1) Leadership is not what a leader does…
(2) Leadership is not the ability to lead…
(3) Leadership is not a appointed political, educational, business or social position….
(4) Leadership is not the ability to get people to follow you….
(5) Leadership is not one person’s vision…
(6) Leadership is not getting someone to do something that’s right for them…
(7) Leadership is not the use of persuasion, influence, coercion or power to
convince a group do something they otherwise would not have done…
(8) Leadership is not a famous athlete, celebrity, politician, or clergyperson…
(9) Leadership is not getting someone to think…
(10) Leadership is not something we know when we see it…
(11) Leadership is not a book written about how to influence people…
(12) Leadership is not guidance…
(13) Leadership is not dominion over others…
(14) Leadership is not a person who has command over followers…
(15) Leadership is not a state or condition of a leader…
(16) Leadership is not a group…
(17) Leadership is not the President of the United States…
(18) Leadership is not the 100 wealthiest people in the world…
(18) Leadership is not a CEO…
(19) Leadership is not social changers…e.g., Martin Luther King, JFK, Ronald Reagan
(20) Leadership is not the management of a group…
(21) Leadership is not inspiration…
(22) Leadership is not a charismatic person…
(23) Leadership is not the art of inducing others to do things against their will…
(24) Leadership is not the art of dealing with human nature…
(25)Leadership is not mentoring…
A Holiday bonus
(26) Leadership is not one person…
Awaiting the rest of the list…learning a lot via each post!
If only more people would read this!