Leadership has been defined and described in many different ways
over the years, since it started being studied in the 1920s.
One possible reason is that the definition of leadership
is determined by the socio-historical moment
in which it takes place.
In the 1920s, we find the first definitions of leaders.
These early leaders will was to induce obedience, respect
loyalty and cooperation to his subordinates.
It can be seen as a very tight way of leadership.
However, in the next decade, leadership was considered as a process to move
everybody towards the specific direction proposed by the leader.
Leaders were more like shepherds and the subordinates the flock.
By the early 40s, the leadership evolved to include
a very important term: Persuasion".
Leaders were more persuasive.
What they wanted was to persuade and direct subordinates
beyond the classical structures of power, position or circumstances.
That means that the leader considered for the first time the subordinates.
Although persuasion was established in the 40s, in the following decade,
the authority was present again.
The leaders focused on the direction of groups
according to the level of authority.
In the 60's another change took place.
The leader influenced others towards a common direction
proposed by the organization.
We can say in a similar way as a pilot leads a boat
towards a destination given by the captain.
The 70s and the 60s were times of great social change.
And thus, leadership was influenced too.
In the 70s the influence of the leader was seen as discretionary
and variant from one member to another.
They were more flexible in their way of interacting with the subordinates.
The 80s was a time of inspiration.
New technologies started letting people imagine a new world.
And thus, this inspiration reached leadership.
Leaders inspired others with the objective
of carrying out a proposed action.
In the 90s leaders and subordinates were seen as the engines
of those changes that reflected common purposes.
This is important, because before that, the objectives were always
those of the organization or the leaders.
And finally, at the beginning of this century,
leaders were given higher responsibility in the actions of the organization.
It is easy to see this in many companies
were the project manager figure started getting a central role
in the everyday work.
This evolution was common to most of the industries,
even the nuclear industry we are talking about,
was influenced by these premises.