Leadership means the quality of a person to persuade others to seek defined goals by guiding them.

According to Chester, I. Barnard:

“Leadership is the quality of behaviour of individuals, whereby they guide people on their activities in organising efforts.”

According to Keith Davis:

“Leadership is the ability to persuade others to seek defined objectives enthusiastically. It is the human factor which binds a group together and motivates it towards the achievement of goals.

Features of leadership are as follows: 

• Personal Quality :

Leadership is a personal quality of a person. It is the behavioural quality and ability to influence others towards accomplishing a goal. 

• Followers : 

Leadership presupposes existence of followers. There can’t be a leader without followers. The essence of leadership is followership. 

• Art of Influencing and Inspiring :

Leadership is the art of influencing and inspiring people to work towards an objective. 

•  Common Goals : 

Leadership is the ability of influencing the behaviour of people to work willingly to achieve some common goals. 

• Based on Interpersonal Relations : 

Leadership involves interpersonal relations between the leader and his group members. A leader influences his group members. 

•  Formal and Informal : 

Leadership may be formal and informal. Though the manager holds a formal position in the organisation, yet sometimes, he has to initiate informal leadership also. 

• Dynamic and Continuous Process : 

Leadership, is a dynamic art. No particular style of leadership is effective in all situations.The effectiveness of leadership depends heavily on situational variables.