What is Leadership? — The origin of the word

In order to touch on the essence of the meaning of a word, it is often useful to go back to its roots, its etymology. The root words of “leading” can be found in Indo-European and Germanic languages: the Indo-European root word “leit(h)” means to go forth, to cross a threshold, to leave, to die; the Old English “lædan” means march at the head of, go before as a guide, accompany and show the way, carry on, pass (one’s life); the root word “liðan” means to travel, to go forth (from Proto-Germanic laidjan). Interestingly, there is a clear difference in the root of the words “lead“ and “manage”: manage is derived from the Latin root word “manus”, what means “hand”. There is a clear connection between managing and handling or controlling things. The word “lead” comes from several root words meaning “to go (forth)”.

“Leading” is about crossing a threshold, going places never seen before, and then, going forth, guiding, showing the way.