What is leadership?
By De Smet, A., Dewar, C., Maor, D., Strovink, K., Srinivasan, R., Malhotra, V., & Keller, S.
De Smet, A., Dewar, C., Maor, D., Strovink, K., Srinivasan, R., Malhotra, V., & Keller, S. (2024, September 10). What is leadership? McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leadership/what-is-leadership
McKinsey consultants define leadership as a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective energy toward a common goal. This comprehensive overview moves beyond the idea of leadership as a fixed trait, instead presenting it as a skill set that can be developed across all levels of an organization. The authors categorize leadership into four key areas: vision, alignment, execution, and developing others. The article underscores that leadership is context-dependent and requires a balance between technical expertise and human-centered soft skills to navigate modern business disruptions. By synthesizing research from global firms, the piece provides a contemporary definition that emphasizes mobilization and agility over traditional authority.