Conceptualizing leadership: What it is and why it matters

Abstract

Drawing on the state of the art in leadership research, this chapter elaborates a conceptualization of political leadership. In doing so, the chapter clarifies crucial questions that emerge from the literature: How does leadership differ from sheer power? Are leaders necessarily successful? How can we conceptualize the many different types of leadership? Based on existing literature, the chapter identifies the basic “ingredients” of leadership (power, common goal, strategies) as well as the parameters of its success. Moreover, the chapter distinguishes two crucial conceptions of leadership, and it concludes by presenting a definition.