So, what actually IS leadership?

It's a question I've been thinking about, teaching—and hopefully practising!—for many years.

And one of my favourite definitions still comes from James Kouzes and Barry Posner:

“Leadership is the art of mobilising others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.”

There's a lot packed into that sentence, but four words particularly stand out to me.

ART.

Perhaps my favourite word in the whole definition.

Leadership isn't a formula.

People aren't formulas.

What motivates one person may frustrate another. What works brilliantly with one team, generation or culture may completely miss the mark with another.

And sometimes the leadership style that made you successful in the past isn't what your people need from you today.

I've had to learn that one personally.

Leadership requires judgement, empathy, creativity—and the humility to keep adapting.

That's why it's an art.

MOBILISING.

The leader isn't the hero who does everything.

Great leaders bring people together, equip them and help them succeed.

WANT.

Possibly the most challenging word.

You can force compliance.

You can't force commitment.

Leadership creates an environment where people choose to contribute.

And finally…

SHARED ASPIRATIONS.

Not my vision that I've somehow persuaded you to follow.

Something we believe is worth working towards together.

After years of leading myself and working with leaders across different organizations, generations and cultures, I'm increasingly convinced that leadership isn't primarily about position, personality—or having all the answers.

It's about helping people move towards something worthwhile.

Together.

And because people change, cultures differ and organizations evolve, none of us ever completely masters it.

That's why leadership remains an art worth learning.