The three readings for this class all relate to one another, as they each focus on the meaning of leadership and the role of history in leadership and the humanities. However, I am going to focus on the two Bass readings. I found Bass\u2019 definition or lack therefore most interesting in his writing \u201cThe Meaning of Leadership\u201d. He states that \u201cleader\u201d was a part of the English language hundreds of years before the word \u201cleadership\u201d was even recognized. This then relates to incorrect assumption that leadership is an innate ability that all leaders possess. Bass then unpacks this assumption and instead argues that actual definition of leadership can depend on the institution that it belongs to, thus always changing.<\/p>\n
Bass goes on to list some of the many understandings of leadership: an exercise of influence, a personality trait, a differentiated role, a power relation, etc. While these definitions alone could help to define the concept, he emphasizes that most times it is a combination of these ideas that actually define a specific type of leadership. Personally, I have found it difficult to describe what Leadership Studies actually is when asked by peers and family members that are unfamiliar with the area of study. Bass has helped me to understand more easily how to accurately describe what I am learning to these skeptical people.<\/p>\n
In Bass\u2019 article titled \u201cConcepts of Leadership,\u201d he expounds on the idea that leaders are everywhere and are not necessarily what we would consider to be the \u201ctypical\u201d leader. The \u201ctypical\u201d leader being a king, priest, chief, etc. He states that with leadership comes responsibility and references Hegel\u2019s Philosophy of Mind<\/em>, where Hegel says that in order to be a successful leader, one needs to serve as a follower first. Subsequently, only then the follower becomes the leader and can understand his or her own followers. This idea stood out to me the most as it is the key to great leadership that many often do not consider.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The three readings for this class all relate to one another, as they each focus on the meaning of leadership and the role of history…<\/p>\n