ABSTRACT
There’s an easy answer to the question, “What is leadership?” It’s what leaders do. From this perspective, scholars who want to develop theories that both describe the phenomenon and offer guidance for being more effective as a leader should simply study both effective and ineffective leaders. What characteristics and behaviors seem to distinguish the good from the bad? This approach permeates much of traditional scholarship about leadership in organizations and societies, and indeed it is still potent. This is especially true of studies that focus on people (CEOs, senior managers, bosses, team leaders) who occupy positions of formal authority in organizations. It also is evident in studies of political leaders. Think of the countless studies of Abraham Lincoln that identify his leadership qualities (vision, moral strength, humor and humility, political astuteness, and so forth).
