Leadership
/ˈliːdərʃɪp/
nounB2
Definition
Leadership means the skill or position of being a leader. It involves guiding, influencing, or managing people to work together and reach common goals. Good leadership helps groups make decisions and stay organized.
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See It in Action
The position or role of a leader
- •She took on leadership of the project team.
- •His leadership in the company helped it grow quickly.
- •Good leadership is important in every organization.
The ability or skill to guide and inspire others
- •Leadership requires communication and decision-making skills.
- •Effective leadership can motivate employees to work better.
- •Leadership is more than just telling people what to do.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "leadership" like "helping" (A1 word), but it means helping by guiding a whole group, not just one person
- ✓Picture a captain steering a ship through rough waters, making sure everyone works together to reach the destination
- ✓It's the feeling when someone takes responsibility and others trust them to show the way
- ✓Sounds like "LEAD-er-ship" → imagine a ship led by a strong leader who controls the direction
- ✓Think of famous leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. or a coach who motivates a team to win
- ✓NOT like "boss" (which can be just a title), leadership means actively helping and inspiring others
- ✓NOT like "followership" (people who follow), leadership is about guiding and making decisions
- ✓NOT like "management" (organizing tasks), leadership focuses more on vision and influence
Try Other Words
- •Management: organizing and controlling tasks (Use when focusing on planning and controlling, not inspiring people)
- •Command: giving orders (Use when authority is strict and formal)
- •Direction: showing the way (Use when focusing on showing the path or goal)
- •Influence: affecting others’ actions or thoughts (Use when emphasizing the power to change people’s behavior)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "lead" (to guide or go first) + suffix "-ership" (a noun form showing state or quality)
- •Etymology: From Old English "lǣdan" meaning to guide, plus "-ship" from Old English meaning condition or skill
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to describe the role or skill of leading people or groups
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in business, politics, and everyday life to describe the act or quality of leading others
- •Key insight: Leadership is both a role (position) and a skill (ability to guide)
Reflect & Connect
•What are the most important qualities you think a good leader should have?
•How can leadership change in different situations, like at school versus at work?
Fill in the blanks
1.Leadership often requires ___ skills like communication and decision-making to guide a team well.
2.A person with leadership usually takes ___ for the group’s success or failure.
3.Unlike management, leadership focuses more on ___ and inspiring people, not just organizing tasks.
4.Good leadership can help a group ___ a difficult problem together.
5.Leadership is different from simply giving orders because it also involves ___ others to follow.
6.When someone shows leadership, they often have to make ___ choices that affect many people.
7.In a company, leadership can ___ employees to work harder and feel more confident.