kemccurdy

Introduction
Leadership has been prevalent in the World since the beginning of time. In can be used in all aspects of life whether it be a business, family, academic, or social situation. When I think of the word leadership, many key words and ideas come into my mind. It is a very broad term that would most likely be explained differently by different people. Many philosophers and business experts have studied the term leadership and have published articles and books on the subject. In this paper I will be discussing my theory of leadership, the difference between leadership and management, and also explain some ideas from the book The Leader’s Companion (Insights on Leadership Through the Ages) by J. Thomas Wren.
Born or made leaders?
One huge question that many people ask is “are people born leaders or can they be trained to become leaders?” Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this subject. My view tends to lean in both directions. I think that certain people are definitely born leaders. There are people that from the day they are born possess innate characteristics that leaders should have. When in a group situation, such as a classroom group, it is natural for some people to assume the leadership position without even being asked. They like to have control over the group and the situation. This might be because they feel they will be able to delegate responsibility efficiently or that they will be able to motivate others in the group to do their best work. Others, may not be so inclined to take the lead role. There are many reasons people do not want to be leaders in a group. Some people have a fear of such responsibility within the group. They might also have a fear of failure. If the group does not do well, they feel they might be blamed. Others just simply don’t feel comfortable telling other people what to do. Although I believe some people have a natural tendency to be able to accurately take the leadership role, I also feel that certain people can be trained to become leaders. Now more than ever schools are replacing management courses by offering leadership and leadership theory courses.
What is a Leader?
According to Wikipedia, the word leadership can refer to: The process of leading, those entities that perform one or more acts of leading or the ability to affect human behavior so as to accomplish a mission designated by the leader. (Wikipedia. January 23, 2008.) I believe this definition is very vague and unclear. Many people believe that a leader is just the most powerful person in a company. An organizational leader is someone who sets direction in the company or group an influences the people to follow that direction. Although not every leader is the same, I think good leaders share some of the same characteristics. A good leader must be able to motivate others. If your followers have no motivation to do anything within the group or company, then it will most likely fail. Getting people motivated can sometimes be a hard struggle. Most people can get de-motivated easier than getting motivated. If a leader has a clear vision and rewards people for their efforts, whether monetarily or non-monetarily, people will more likely be motivated. Another characteristic that most good leaders possess is the ability to lead by example. Setting a good example within the group or company is very important. If the leader is working hard then people will follow that and work hard. Another characteristic is that the leader must be able to efficiently delegate authority and responsibility within the group.

Styles of Leadership
Many researchers and scholars have done studies and experiments on the different leadership styles. Not all leaders act in the same way. Even though they can be divided into different styles, people are still unique and may not fit exactly into one category or another. In 1939, Ken Lewin and some of his colleagues conducted experiments that dealt with decision-making and leadership. Although these experiments were actually done with groups of children, since they were conducted in the early modern era they were highly influential. In their studies, they found three different styles that are prominent in leadership; autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire.
The style that caused the most dissatisfaction was the autocratic style. These leaders tend to make decisions without consulting anyone. They feel that the decision made without others will not be of detriment to the company or group. This style is useful when people will not be unmotivated or upset that they were not part of the decision. They still have the same enthusiasm toward the work or project. (Ken Lewin. 1939.)
The next style of leadership is the most effective style which is democratic. Democratic leaders involve others with their decision making. Many people appreciate having their opinions be recognized before making a decision, especially is they are used to another type of leadership. One problem that may occur here though is the variance of opinions. After all opinions have been heard, depending on the leader, they will either make the final decision or put it to a vote. (Ken Lewin. 1939.)
The last style of leadership that Lewin describes is laissez-faire. This style of leadership involves the people more than the leader. The people are allowed to govern themselves and make their own decisions. Since they are making their own decisions, they are also responsible for the outcomes. A problem can occur here is the people are not capable or motivated to make their own decisions. (Ken Lewin. 1939.)
Difference between Leadership and Management
I believe that although leadership and management are different, the combination of the two will create the best results. Most managers have a certain skill set or routine they have learned to manage the company. I think one of the differences is the fact that management is normally a learned skill and leadership can come naturally. Almost anyone can learn to become a manager by taking classes and learning in the field, but not everyone can learn to become a leader. Most leaders are either born with certain characteristics or obtain them throughout their life through various experiences. “Managers are more interested in what happens with the company while leaders are more interested in the people.” (Adam Douglass. CICS. 2008.) I think that managers sometimes forget why they are with the company. They can get so distracted in trying to make money and make the company money, that they forget the way to do that is to satisfy their workers.
Tao Te Ching
In Wren’s book Leadership Companion, he looks into the historical views of leadership. One of the books that caught my eye was Tao Te Ching written by Lao-tzu. Through his lifetime of meditation and careful observation in the sixth century B.C. he compiled this book. I thought relating a leader to water was genius. “Consider water: water cleanses and refreshes all creatures without distinction and without judgment; water freely and fearlessly goes deep beneath the surface of things; water is fluid and responsive; water follows the law freely.” (Lao-Tzu. The Leadership Companion. Pg. 70.) I thought this passage was very inspirational. A leader should be able to act so that everyone benefits and should do their best work even if they are not getting the best pay. Another similarity he points out is leadership and the movements of water. Timing is everything. Instead of pushing people to do something, gliding them along will prevent people from resenting or resisting.
Conclusion
Leadership can encompass many opinions from different people. There is no one definition for the word. Great philosophers and authors have studied and produced work on this subject dating back all the way until before Christ. By studying these works and experiencing leadership in my own life, I have been able to begin formulating my theory of leadership.

Bibliography
Lewin, K., LIippit, R. and White, R.K. (1939). Patterns of aggressive behavior in experimentally created social climates. Journal of Social Psychology, 10, 271-301
Wikipedia. Leadership Definition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership. January 23, 2008.
Wren, J. T. (1995). Leadership Companion. New York: The Free Press.