Leadership in one word

What is Leadership?

Dictionary definitions of the word “leadership” are descriptive, but unsatisfactory. The Wikipedia entry for leadership offers up the following attempts:

• Leadership is “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.”
• Leadership is “organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal.”
• A leader is “somebody whom people follow, or … somebody who guides or directs others.”

While these definitions are technically correct, they fail to embody that special something that makes true leaders effective. That indefinable quality that inspires, motivates, and brings out the best in teams.

The Challenge
We challenge you to define leadership. If you had to sum up what leadership means to you in just one word, what would that word be? Tell us via Twitter (@LinkageInc) using the hashtag #LeadershipWord or via the comments below.