The Meaning of Leadership

The word leader comes from the Anglo-Saxon, “ledan,” meaning to “go forth.” So it indeed refers to the person who stands out in front, the hero without whom the group would founder. But perhaps this meaning, which may have served ancient Europe well enough in its day, has now become outdated. Perhaps in this era, we need a new meaning to respond to our increasingly complex and networked world. Today, might leadership refer to working with others to improve themselves and to improve their community? In fact, might leadership no longer suffice as an individual trait, but rather as a practice that refers to the activity of people as they accomplish important work together?