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What Is Leadership Anyway?
Leadership is both a simple and complex concept. Many scholars have attempted to define leadership, but a single, comprehensive definition does not exist. All definitions of leadership are subjective; they reflect the perspective of the person who creates them.
The simplest way I can define leadership is this: leadership is the ability and skills to inspire others to achieve a common goal. At times, this ability is innate. Other times, it is part of skill development, and, more often, it is a combination of learned and inherent skills. Leadership also encompasses the maturity to take responsibility for the actions of the individuals and groups that leaders lead.
Leadership scholar Robert Northouse (2022, p. 6) identifies four core elements of leadership: process, influence, an audience, and a shared purpose. Leadership is often seen either as a set of personal traits or as the processes leaders use (Khan et al., 2016; Northouse, 2022). A recent survey by Klier et al. (2025) reveals that leaders are characterized by their character, values, and integrity. The study also emphasizes that leadership goes beyond inspiring others; it includes co-creating with stakeholders, underscoring the significance of collaboration and working towards a common goal.
Defining leadership comprehensively is challenging because many factors influence it. In their literature review, Zakeer Ahmed Khan and his collaborators (2016) analyzed seven of the most common leadership theories. Conversely, Jessica Dinh and her collaborators (2014) identified 66 distinct leadership theories in a meta-study, highlighting that no single definition can fully capture the concept. My own definition, based on the four elements outlined by Northouse, remains incomplete because it doesn’t consider other important aspects, such as which variables affect leadership styles or how these styles impact outcomes.
Efforts to find a short, quick definition of leadership often fail to capture its full meaning. For example, when Mark Summerfield’s (2014) defined leadership as “making things better”, I believe he neglected the fact that leaders do not always prioritize the well-being of those around them. History provides many examples of inspiring, transformative leaders who successfully motivated others to reach a common goal, even if it didn’t necessarily improve things. Although leadership is usually viewed positively, it is not inherently good in itself. A leader's skills can produce both positive and negative outcomes, and effective leaders are capable of achieving either.
Again, I believe leadership is not easily defined. Myriad factors shape what leadership is, from cultural contexts to the purposes and groups in which it is employed. This is why it is important for leaders to always be open to learning and growth. Those leaders who stay current in their exploration of what leadership means in their times will always be ahead of those who remain idle and don’t recognize the complex, iterative nature of leadership.
Here at Santiago Cultural Consulting, we can support you in your journey of leadership. Our multicultural approach helps you explore different aspects of your leadership style and how to harness the diversity of your teams to achieve your goals more effectively. Reach out today, and you will be on your way to unlocking the potential in diversity.
References
Dinh, J. E., Lord, R. G., Gardner, W. L., Meuser, J. D., Liden, R. C., & Hu, J. (2014). Leadership
theory and research in the new millennium: Current theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 36–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.005
Khan, Z. A., Nawaz, A., & Khan, I. (2016). Leadership Theories and Styles: A Literature
Review. Journal of Resources Development and Management, 16(2422-8397).
Klier, J., Dillon, R., Blackburn, S., & Mansour, T. (2025, April 4). Honing leadership
excellence in the public sector. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/honing-leadership-excellence-in-the-public-sector
Northouse, P. G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage Publishing.
Summerfield, Mark R. (2014). Leadership: A simple definition. American Journal of Health-
System Pharmacy, 71(3), 251-3.