I see leadership as a neutral term. Because clearly there are all sorts of leaders in the world:
from healthy to harmful, both effective and ineffective, worth following and not. So how then do I define leadership, as a neutral term?
To me, a leader is a person who is responsible for other people and themselves simultaneously. They could be doing any of the following for themselves and others (and this is not an exhaustive list):
Oversee the care of
Guide
Set an example for
Motivate
Teach and train
Build unity amongst, and with
Communicate and uphold vision, mission, and values
Set standards for
Establish ways of being and doing
Mentor, coach, and counsel
Collaborate with
Goal set
Develop
Create culture
And the key is that all of this is both for self and others, at the same time. Here in lies the complexity. Leaders navigate their own inner world and at the same time manage the relationships they influence. Leaders do both, all the time, whether they realize it or not. And how well they do this is what determines the type of leader they are.
So, by this definition, are you a leader? And do you know how healthy you are?