1. the processes involved in leading others, including organizing, directing, coordinating, and motivating their efforts toward achieving certain group or organizational goals. Leadership tends to be reciprocal (leaders influence followers, and followers influence leaders), transactional (leaders and followers exchange their time, energies, and skills to increase their joint rewards), transformational (leaders inspire and motivate followers), and cooperative rather than coercive (followers voluntarily accept the leader’s suggestions). See transactional leadership; transformational leadership.

2. the traits or behaviors characteristic of an effective leader. See leadership theories.