Defining Leadership

Write 2–3 pages in which you reflect on your own understanding of leadership and your approach to developing leadership skills, and explain how leadership differs from management.

In the 21st century, the study of leadership is multidisciplinary, with contributions from the fields of history, philosophy, psychology, political science, business, and education (Northouse, 2007). There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are people who have tried to define it. Although we intuitively know what the word means, it has different meaning for different people. Manning and Curtis (2012) explained, “Leadership is social influence. It means leaving a mark. It is initiating and guiding, and the result is change” (p. 2).

SHOW LESS

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Competency 1: Evaluate the purpose and relevance of leadership.
  • Develop a definition of leadership.
  • Explain the importance of defining leadership.
• Competency 2: Evaluate how leadership strengths apply in the workplace and within the community.
  • Describe strategies to develop leadership skills.
  • Develop a definition of management.
  • Explain the differences between leadership and management.

References

Manning, G., & Curtis, K. (2012). The art of leadership (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Northouse, G. (2007). Leadership theory and practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your assessment.

• How do effective leaders model behavior for others?
• Is it possible to model leadership outside of the workplace?

The resources provided here are optional. You may use other resources of your choice to prepare for this assessment; however, you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The BUS-FP3012 – Fundamentals of Leadership Library Guide can help direct your research, and the Supplemental Resources and Research Resources, both linked from the left navigation menu in your courseroom, provide additional resources to help support you.

Capella Multimedia

Click the link provided below to view the following multimedia piece:

• Three Circles of Effective Leadership | Transcript. attached
  • This presentation is based on Blanchard and Zigarmi’s Leadership and the One-Minute Manager.

Capella University Library Resources

• Hopen, D. (2010). The changing role and practices of successful leaders. attached Journal for Quality and Participation, 33(1), 4–9.

NBC Archives on Demand attached

• Click Launch Video to view the Portraits of Leadership video from NBC Learn. This production assembles a collage of iconic leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., to illustrate concepts of everyday leadership. ATTACHED

Bookstore Resources

These resources are available from the Capella University Bookstore:

• Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2012). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Introduction, “Making Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations,” pages 1–7.
  • Chapter 1, “When Leaders Are at Their Best,” pages 9–40.
  • Chapter 2, “Clarify Values,” pages 43–69.
  • Chapter 3, “Set the Example,” pages 71–97.
• Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2008). Strengths based leadership: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow. New York, NY: Gallup Press.
  • “Introduction,” pages 1–3.
  • “Part One: Investing in Your Strengths,” pages 5–17.

  Research the definition of leadership and consider how the definitions you find match your own ideas of what leadership means. Based on your research and your own self-reflection, address the following:

  • What is your definition of leadership?
  • Why is it important to have a definition of leadership? How does your definition support your perspective on the concept of leadership?
  • When you think about developing your leadership skills, what type of approach do you use? Do you develop a plan based on your definition, or do you simply follow your instincts?
  • What is your definition of management?
  • Explain the differences between leadership and management.

  Format your paper according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting guidelines, including a title page as well as a references page with APA-formatted citations. Your completed assessment should be 2–3 pages in length (page count not including the title page and references). Include references from at least two scholarly sources.