Leadership - a new approach

Leadership should not be viewed as a set of essential job functions or as a position within an organization’s chain of command. Rather, leadership is a social process in which people at various levels in an organization work together to meet their own needs and the organization’s goals. In fact, within any organization, those in formal leadership may not be the only individuals to whom leadership authority is imputed. Informal leaders also have the power to motivate the group to meet shared expectations. Both formal and informal leaders are those who can personalize interactions with team members, providing the coaching and mentoring each might need to become a more valuable member of the organization. This requires a change in leader focus - moving away from a traditional leader-follower relationship construct to a leader-stakeholder approach based on ethically congruent relationships between equals playing different roles within the organization. Ultimately, it is the perception of a person’s past success and everyday interaction between organization members that mark a person as a leader, whether they hold a leadership position or not.

Garcia, C. C. (2013). Brothers from Different Mothers - Confucius, Benedict, and Francis:
The Historical Search for Humane Leadership.
Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, Vol.1 No.3.