Systems Leadership, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 12 The Work of Leadership: Creating a Culture

 

 

 

The Work of Leadership

This is probably the most written-about topic of all. It ranges from the more descriptive biographies and autobiographies of people who have been in significant leadership roles, for example, Mandela and Churchill, to theories of leadership such as Hargreave and Fink’s Sustainable Leadership (2006). Arguments abound as to whether leaders are ‘born, not made’ and to what extent leadership can be taught or learned.

In order even to discuss these ideas, it is first of all important to determine what leadership is and how it might be recognised. It is interesting to think about what current definitions of leadership come to mind, if any. Could you write down an ...