What is Leadership?

No blog devoted to discussing leadership can be complete without defining leadership.  Of course, “leadership” is not the easiest word to define – many people have many definitions, and they all have credence.  So, where does that leave us? 

Let’s start with the dictionary: Merriam-Webster’s defines “leadership” as the capacity to lead or “the act or an instance of leading.”  That dictionary goes on to define “leading” as “exercising leadership.”  Hmmm, that is not very helpful.

The on-line Business Dictionary has a better definition to work from.  It says that leadership involves creating and sharing a vision, providing the tools and information to realize that vision and coordinating everyone’s actions to achieve that vision.  This is a pretty good definition, it shows leadership as action.

Even better, and more informative is the Business Dictionary’s further description of a leader:

A leader steps up in times of crisis, and is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations. Unlike management, leadership cannot be taught, although it may be learned and enhanced through coaching or mentoring.

Ok, so that how the civilian business community defines leadership.  As this is a blog focused on Marine Corps Leadership, how does the Marine Corps define leadership.  Definition after the jump. 

Here is the Marine Corps' definition of leadership:

The sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that allow a person to inspire and control a group of people successfully. 

Huh?  No offense Marine Corps, but what does that mean? 

After 20 years experience and countless leadership discussions and lectures, here is how I think Marines really define leadership:

·         accomplishing the mission and

·         taking care of your people.

Everything involved in leadership falls under these two broad categories.    

Note also how these requirements are written: "taking" and "accomplishing" - verbs.  Leadership is an action verb, not a noun or an adjective.  If you do not take action and do things, you are not providing Leadership.
Here is the other important thing to note – mission accomplishment comes first.  Your people come second.  The Marine Corps provides a stark reality of how this works.  Sometimes you have to take an objective, and when you do, some of your Marines will get maimed or killed.  You want to take care of them, but sometimes you can’t. 

Here is the secret.  If you do a good job of taking care of your people, they will have faith in you and trust you when you need to put the mission a head of them.  When your people know that you have their backs, they will go above and beyond and sacrifice for you. 

So, if you want to be a Leader, you need to focus on your mission - your team's assigned task, and you need to get it done.  On the journey towards mission accomplishment, you need to take care of your people.

If you can do those two things, you are a Leader.

Are you up to the challenge?