ABSTRACT
Identifying leadership has been likened to the story of the blind men and the elephant.1 Originally from India, the story relates each of several blind men touching a different body part of the elephant (the trunk, the body, a leg, an ear). Being blind, none is able to see the animal in its entirety. The individuals form a mental image of the whole beast from one of the parts. The person who touched the elephant’s trunk suggests that the animal is like a snake. Others suggest that the animal is like a wall (from touching the body), a tree (from touching a leg), and a fan (from touching an ear). Similarly, leadership then may be considered from any number of angles and, as a result, offer different perspectives. At the core of definitions of leadership is a sentence or two that describes the ability of one person to influence the behaviors of another person or group.2 The relationship of the leader (the influencer) to the follower(s) (the influenced) is a necessary condition of leadership. Without followers, there is no leader.3 As President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) allegedly said, “It’s a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you’re trying to lead and find no-one there.” The ability to attract and then retain followers is a key attribute of a successful leader.4
