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Abstract

Who is a leader? Organizational psychologists do not seem to be able to agree on a definition. One way to understand leadership, however, is through the differences between a leader and an authority. A true leader does not use force and coercion to direct his or her followers toward a common goal. A key element of good leadership is how individuals view their thoughts, reflective thinking and listening skills.
As Buddha said, "We are what we think; with our thoughts we create the world."

Most people assume that reality is something that exists outside themselves. But our realities arise from our way of thinking. What is on our minds is what looks real to us. This is why people attending the same event can have radically different opinions about what happened and what was decided. Effective leadership is instantly recognizable by those who are touched by it. When a person acts with common sense, grace and intelligence, the people being led feel calm, certain and confident. This fosters humor, faith in the chosen direction, a willingness to pitch in and a sense that the hard work no longer seems difficult.

The emerging leadership models speak about the type of leaders who inspires followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the organization and who are able to create and articulate a realistic, credible, and attractive vision of the future for the organization. But do we need a time-teller or a clock builder is the concern of the present scenario?

Overview of Traditional Leadership Theories