Much has been written about leadership over the years. It is probably one of the most written about but least understood and defined concepts in business. Leadership and management are often confused and blurred, and inspirational words such as mentor, coach, motivator and the like, are often interspersed when describing a leader. There are a few things we do know about leadership: The only thing common to all leaders is that they are different. Leadership is not the sole domain of business; it applies to every aspect of human endeavour._x000D_
We are all required to lead at times, and we all have it in our ability to lead._x000D_
There is no set of predetermined competencies, which a leader must possess to be effective. Hence there is no course in the world that can teach you to become a leader._x000D_
There is no such thing as the perfect leader._x000D_
Leadership is a verb, not a title; you actually have to do it to be judged a leader._x000D_
All leaders no matter how you define the term, must leave a legacy._x000D_
Thus in the busy world we all live in, what are the lessons in leadership that we can all learn from, that will assist us all in our pursuit of leadership. The purpose of today is to put forward a framework for leadership that I have been researching and working on for many years. It is not the definitive framework, merely a framework. Out of today you will take your own collective thoughts, learnings, observations, experiences, education and training, and collective wisdom, and apply it to yourself._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Stewart, D, 2004. Sustained leadership - how to define, articulate and maintain, in Proceedings New Leaders' 2005, pp 57-62 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).