Leadership Theory and Education: Building Bridges or Digging Chasms

“Leaders mull ways to handle world problems” the headline read. I paused and considered the writer’s intent of the word “leader” as I often do when I see any form of the word used. Does the writer mean leader as in position, influence, or behaviors? Are these leaders genuinely, as Peter Northouse (2007) defined, influencing “a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” (p. 3)? Sadly, it is often difficult with articles in the media and throughout society to distinguish a writer or speaker’s intended meaning of the words leader or leadership. For most readers, watchers, and listeners of the media in our society, it seems the word leadership is taken at face value – but what is face value for the word leadership? In other words, how does society define leadership?