what is leadership?

Leadership is the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "lead", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. It is a contested term, and there are various viewpoints on the concept. Leadership is not something people are born with, but rather a skill that can be learned and improved over time. It is a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, execute strategic plans, and continually renew. Some key characteristics of an effective leader include self-confidence, strong communication and management skills, creative and innovative thinking, perseverance, willingness to take risks, and openness to change. Leadership is not tied to a persons title, seniority, or ranking in a hierarchy, and anyone can have or attain it, even those without leadership positions. It is about guiding and impacting outcomes, enabling groups of people to work together to accomplish what they couldn’t do working individually. Leadership is an interaction among people, and it requires followers with particular traits and particular skills and a leader who knows how to use them.