Leadership

A "leader" is someone who brings people together and guides them toward a common goal. Anyone can tell others what to do, but effective leadership requires much more than the ability to assign tasks to a group.

Chinese military general and "Art of War" author Sun Tzu described a leader as one who "cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to proper methods and discipline.”

With all of these differing schools of thought, it's clear that there's no single definition of leadership, and that what works for one leader may not necessarily work for another, depending on the circumstances and personality type. But there's one thing that nearly every academic, historian and even leaders themselves agree upon: A true leader must be able to inspire his or her team. 

Research published in the Harvard Business Review in 2000 by author and psychologist Daniel Goleman uncovered six different leadership styles: commanding, visionary, affiliative, democratic, pace-setting and coaching.

Business News Daily spoke with five current business leaders about what leadership means to them, and how leaders can achieve the ultimate goal of inspiring others.

Leadership requires ambition. 

Good leaders have a good attitude.

Leadership means being in touch with your people. 

Leaders set the right example.

Leaders can't stand alone. 

4 Personality Traits That Make You an Effective Leader

Research in the field suggests that, on a broad level, employees and employers are looking for similar characteristics in their leaders -- no matter what business they're in. Here are four personality traits that people want in a boss.

1. Honesty

2. Openness

3. Decisiveness

4. Conscientiousness

Five characteristics of effective leaders

* 1. Ability to withstand job-related pressure and stress (leaders have a high degree of emotional stability).

* 2. Ability to take initiative, be clear and communicative (leaders are outgoing, with a high degree of extraversion).

* 3....