Abstract

To ensure sustainable success, leaders must be willing to make changes to keep pace with the challenges facing organizations in the 21st century. The term leadership implies authority over others, but there are limits to the degree of authority leaders can apply without seeming to be dictatorial or abusive. The tactics a leader chooses have a major effect on followers’ willingness to offer support. While this article doesn’t address specific leadership characteristics, it does examine changing leadership theories and the conditions existing today that require leaders to take on a new role and adopt new approaches.