Defining Leadership: The Critical Role of Definition Making

Abstract

Consistent definition making has been missing from much of leadership scholarship. This chapter makes a case for defining leadership terms and then using these definitions consistently to explain, teach, and research effectively. In the process, a typology of leadership is presented to deal with confusion points that continue to plague ongoing discussions of leadership. The goal is to make leadership and servant leadership concepts understandable, observable, and measurable realities that can be practiced effectively and taught to and developed in leaders. The chapter presents and then seeks to answer seven key questions to address confusion points in the understanding of leadership terms. Terms defined are leader, leadership, follower, management, and servant leadership. Criteria and a definition-making process are presented and utilized.