Leadership is abuzz these days. Everyone is talking about it. I’m not the only one—or certainly not the best one—who addresses leadership frequently.
Yet, as much as it’s in our conversations and thought processes, it appears most organizations and churches are consistently looking for new leaders. In my conversations with other churches, people want to know how to find, attract and train leaders.
Apparently it is far easier to talk about it—even perhaps easier to call oneself a leader—than it is to actually be a leader.
Perhaps we need to do a better job distinguishing what leadership actually means.
Defining Leadership
Even with an advanced degree in leadership, I can tell you experts who “schooled” me didn’t always agree on the definition of leadership. Perhaps, even more, we need to better understand what makes up great leadership—even more than add a definition in which we may not all agree.
Additionally, I almost wonder if one reason we have such a hard time defining leadership is because there are actually levels of leadership. There could be the kind anyone can do. Everyone is a leader at some level. If leadership is truly “influence,” then all of us are leaders in some area of life.
And, then, maybe there is something even more defined. Simply for discussion I’ll use a term: Stellar Leadership. The kind of leadership the truly great leaders provide.
Stellar: Pertaining to a preeminent performer—or—Outstanding or immense.
Isn’t this the kind of leadership we are all seeking?
I am still a leader in training. Not sure when I’ll “get there,” but I know I’m not looking to be an average leader. I want to be a stellar leader someday, one who is outstanding or immense in my profession.
With that in mind, here are 10 definitions I think we find in stellar leadership:
(These words are mine, but I got the definition of each from dictionary.com)
