Understanding Group Leadership

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It’s a word that’s constantly tossed about in political campaigns, highlighted on résumés, and used in book titles and biographies. But just what is leadership? Scholars have grappled with the task of defining leadership for many years.

Two key terms that show up in many definitions are direction and influence. That’s because in its most essential form, leadership is the ability to direct or influence others’ behaviors and thoughts toward a productive end (Nierenberg, 2009). This capacity for influence may stem from a person’s power or simply from group members’ admiration or respect for the individual. Because influence involves power over others, let’s take a look at power—what it is and where it comes from.