Nowadays leadership is one of the most popular words in business. Do you want to learn how definition of leadership evolved?
Between
1900 and 1929 leadership was control and centralization of power which would be domination of the leader and
obedience of the followers. In 1930s
Moore claimed that leadership is less domination but more about influencing attitudes and activities of
the many people. So, personal traits
of the leader were emphasized. Hemphill defined
leadership as the directive behaviors
of one individual when he/she is involved in a group activity in 1949. Then developing shared goals added to the group theory in 1950s. When we reach 1960s the leadership definition
becomes “acts by persons which influence other persons in a shared direction”.
Next decade it doesn’t change much and explained as initiation and maintenance of groups or
organizations to accomplish shared goals.
In 1980s leadership was based on four terms: leadership wishes, influence, traits,
and transformation.
Today leadership is defined as a process
whereby an individual influences a group
of individuals to achieve a common goal.
Source: Leadership Theory and Practice, Peter G. Northouse, SAGE Publications, Inc. 2013. Chapter 1
