Three health system vice presidents (VPs) are discussing leadership over lunch. The first VP says, “Leadership is completely about relationships. It’s about how you work with people and how you get to know them as individuals.” The second VP replies, “I agree that people are important, but you can have a lot of happy people and not achieve any goals. That’s not leadership in my book.” The third VP comments, “You both have good points, but you’re really missing the key of leadership—vision. A lot of what you’re talking about is management. Leadership is developing a vision and getting the organization moving toward that vision.” 

You join these three VPs at the table, and they ask for your thoughts on this issue. 

Questions

1. Describe in detail how each VP’s argument is right and wrong.

2. How might their differing viewpoints be melded together to provide a comprehensive and accurate definition of leadership?