Leadership

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlidɚʃɪp/

Definitions

1. The process of directing individuals or teams to accomplish objectives involves influencing and motivating members while making critical decisions to enhance performance
2. The ability to steer a collective effort towards common goals requires the skill to inspire others and to take responsibility for outcomes
3. The action of guiding or managing a group or organization to achieve goals through direction and coordination ; the inherent capability to influence, motivate, and inspire people toward a shared vision or objective

Etymology: "Leadership" is a plain compound: "leader" with the suffix "-ship" attached. The suffix comes from Old English "-scipe," a noun-forming element that originally meant something like "shape, condition, or state," and which is related to the word "shape" itself. It was used to build abstract nouns from people and titles, so "friendship" and "kingship" describe the state or quality of being a friend or king. The base word "leader" comes from Old English "lǣdere," meaning one who leads, from the verb "lǣdan" ("to lead"). That verb is ultimately from the same Germanic root as "lead" in the sense of guiding, and "leader" has been recorded in English since the Old English period. The suffix and base joined in the usual way, so "leadership" in the sense of the position or capacity to lead is a straightforward formation from elements that were already in use.

Synonyms: guidance, direction

Antonyms: followership, subservience