What is this thing called leadership?

  In this section of The Leader's Companion, different authors tackled what the definition of leadership is.  As a whole, the results were inconclusive.  Different wording or terminology separated the various definitions and there was alternative opinions on the foundations of this word "leadership" that has come about only in the past 300 years.  
  Bernard Bass takes a very succinct approach in defining the meaning of leadership.  I appreciate that he acknowledges the multitude of definitions without polluting his section with different definitions and jargon (Wren 1995).  He simply postulates that leadership's meaning is somewhat contingent on the setting that it is being defined in and then launches into his definition:

"Leadership has been conceived as the focus of group processes, as a matter of personality, as a matter of inducing compliance, as the exercise of influence, as particular behavior, as a form of persuasion, as a power relation, as an instrument to achieve goals, as an effect of interaction, as a differentiated role, as initiation of structure, and as many combinations of these definitions" (Wren 1995 p. 38).

  On the other hand, Richard Hughes, Robert Ginnett and Gordan Curphy use a narrative to introduce their answer to the question, "what is leadership?"  A synopsis of the novel, Alive, begins their section, telling of the plane that crashed in the Andes mountains and how the survivors of the crash were saved from the equally dangerous mountain environment (Wren 1995 p. 40).  They then introduce the multiplicity of leadership ideas and theories using a number of popular definitions.  They then highlight the differences and suggest a moral relativist-like answer that they are all correct definitions in their own regard.  The take home message of the essay becomes that we are all a part of the leadership process because we are all striving towards a goal of some kind.  
  Amongst all this discussion of leadership, the quote that Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy end with concerning striving towards a common goal resonates most soundly but in both chapters very little lip-service was given to followership.  The Art of Followership, is just one book that gives adequate  weight to the importance of the follower (2008).  I wish that these chapters had made a greater deal of the impact that a follower has as a leader and the examination of that paradigm.  
  I personally hold that while leadership is incredibly complex and cannot be narrowed down to any sort of succinct definition, it is intellectually lazy to state that there is no correct definition of leadership.  Narrowing down leadership would also require us to disagree with someone about leadership which would entail conflict of some kind which can be perceived as more work than it is worth.  For this reason, I appreciate Bass' definition as being firm.  While I would prefer it to be more succinct and direct, at least he makes a good faith effort.  This relates to science and biology more specifically because while the sciences are fundamentally more tangible and measurable, it is still difficult to define and stick to definitions within science much less the ethics of science.  I want to spend the time, energy and effort to truly know what I believe and how it applies to my life, both in leadership and in biology and the corresponding ethics of both. 
  As for now, Young Life can at times take a relatively ambiguous and free spirited approach to how to present the Christian faith.  We can at times beat around the bush so much that students do not even know we are Christians.  As we come together as a group striving for a common goal, it takes leadership to ensure that we are making every effort to achieve the common goal and avoid taking a laizze faire approach as soon as it is convenient.  

Riggio, R; Chaleff, I; Lipman-Blumen, J (2008) The Art of Followership.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Wren, J (1995) A Leader's Companion. New York: The Free Press

Intro and Part One

"Leadership is the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." ~ James MacGregor Burns

  Through reading various books and articles, there will be an attempt to demystify leadership.  In the process of learning and introspection, real-world and real life applications will hopefully be drawn in the betterment of self.  The Leader's Companion, a compilation of essays on leadership, was edited by J. Thomas Wren and will be the primary text for leadership learnings.  The presuppositions stated within the book's preface are as follows:

1) Leadership is essential to the human condition and is not a fad but a current and timeless concept. 

2) Leadership is the province of all, not just the privileged or elite few.  As such, it involves multiple elements of process and not simply actions of the leader. 

3) It is vitally important to understand leadership. With this understanding, mutual goals can be more easily achieved (Wren, 1995).

Part One - The Crisis of Leadership

  John Gardner opens the first essay of The Leader's Companion by debunking the common cry for more and better leadership (1995).  He suggests that the cry for leadership are the only words that one can muster against the growing concerns of social disintegration, moral disorientation and the spinning compass needle of our time.  As we lower our standards and expectations of leaders to a shallow shadow of what they should be, we become susceptible to manipulation by the leaders we appoint.  Even the simple conversation concerning leadership is shallow because it ignores the greater topic of the accomplishment of group purpose.  For that goal is what necessitates leadership in any form.  

  As we face monumental issues, we are immobilized and unable to react.  Gardner suggests that this is due to our suppression of awareness because we have failed to maintain the conviction that we are able to make an impact (Wren, 1995).  In our dispersed leadership positions, we fail to see the power of our own positions.  Gardner suggests that "vitality at middle and lower levels of leadership can produce greater vitality in the higher levels of leadership" (Wren, 1995 p. 6).  In our dispersed leadership positions, Gardner leaves us on a note of hope for we have so much untapped potential for the ability to achieve group purposes.  

  Robert Greenleaf brings the idea of servant leadership to the table as a solution to our perceived problem of leadership (Wren, 1995).  He references the novel Journey to the East in which the character Leo is a servant to a band of traveling men.  He sustains them physically and in other ways through his service, so much that when he suddenly leaves, the group of men disband due to disarray.  It is only later in the novel that the narrator discovers that Leo was actually the head leader of the Order that sponsored the band of men.  This imagery and narrative proclaim the value of servitude in leadership.  By taking a stance of humility and service, a leader is able to better tap into innovation and improvement.  Greenleaf supports Gardner in proclaiming that leaders are made, not born yet suggests that servitude is an even more difficult trait to learn.  Yet to the degree at which it is more difficult to attain, it is exponentially more valuable.  

  I meet these ideas and words amidst the uncertainty of my own personal future.  Yet as I focus on my own future, there is room for enabling those around me in my current leadership positions.  My Young Life team contains 5 freshman leaders who barely know the ropes of the ministry and I have the ability to come and show them what our group purpose is so they may continue the journey of striving for achieving our purpose.  It is simple for me to dismiss my own leadership in the void of positions I was appointed to yet my service in various areas can be influential in shaping those leaders that surround me.  

  As for the studying of biology that I have undertaken in my undergraduate education, the servant leadership theory is much more applicable.  For the major is inherently competitive amongst the students.  This competition is equally borne out of the personality of the average biology student and the fact that often the degree is followed by education at a graduate school or medical school that are competitive to get into.  I have the ability and opportunity to give of my time and knowledge of the program to students who are just beginning the journey.  

Wren, J (1995) A Leader's Companion. New York: The Free Press