Leadership

Abstract

Leadership has increasingly become the focus of attention of many academic disciplines, business fields, and in political discourses (Western, 2008; Bennis, 2003; Gardner, 1989). Many organizations and companies of different sectors are in need of capable leadership to strengthen them and to pilot them through unforeseen circumstances (Center for Creative Leadership, 2009). The search for the ideal leadership style and type has been continuing to fill the list of literature and education programs. According to Northouse (2001), there are at least 65 different classification systems defining the dimensions of leadership. Considering the multitude of ways in which leadership could be viewed and conceptualized, four main components are suggested by Northouse (2001) as central of the leadership’s phenomenon:

• 1. Leadership is a process.

• 2. Leadership involves influence.

• 3. Leadership occurs within a group context.

• 4. Leadership involves goal attainment.