There are many definitions of leadership. They all differ using a different focus. Some look at what leaders do, others describe the situation, and yet others search for ways to describe what is expected from leaders.

Take for example a definition I’ve been sharing in the past. It describes leadership as “declaring a future that others commit to achieve”. The focus of this definition is on enrolling others into a project or vision.

Defining successful leadership is by taking the description of a leader as someone who has followers is there to help leaders and followers assess the situation.

For someone taking up a hierarchical role of leadership, these definitions will be helpful. They ease choosing their preferred tasks or ways to engage with their teams.

A broader definition of leadership that has nothing to do with a hierarchical position is found in Leadership in Organizations by Gari Yukl: “Leadership is the process of influencing individuals and teams to accomplish their shared objectives.”

It disconnects leadership from the hierarchical role and connects it with a specific way to act. The objective of leadership finds itself in the shared objectives. Whereas the activity of leadership finds itself in the process of influencing others. It connects the objective with the journey.

What this definition also does is remind us that everything else would mean doing the work oneself while possibly being focused on what either side wants.

It’s a definition that leaves ample space for the many aspects of leadership people will look for and how they will find themselves at ease or not with the leader they are following. It also allows thinking about the many means a leader will have to use within a specific situation.

They find themselves within three areas. One is to figure out what the common objective is. Another is to understand the interpersonal and organizational dynamics that show what type of influence might succeed. And the third is to connect the common objective with a business strategy that serves the organization’s options to survive or thrive.

Dealing with these three pillars by understanding how little control and how much influence one has over them becomes the work of a leader.