Defining what it means to lead and who constitutes a leader is a cumbersome task. It is an important one to flesh out, especially if you are a leader. As a man of faith, I believe that there is a natural gift of leadership and that there is a spiritual gift of leadership. While this article definitely has value for spiritual leaders it is intended for leaders of all creeds. (I say this because spiritual leadership is not something we bestow upon ourselves but something God gives us. The next set of articles will tackle spiritual leadership.)

When someone asks me to define leader I address these points.

1. Leadership is a complex process of influence.

2. Leaders offer verb-centric direction.

3. Passion is a leader's catalyst for momentum.

4. Leaders are transparent.

5. Leaders engage risk.

I do not claim that this is a comprehensive list by any means but I do believe having these five points in place helps to develop leadership cognition. and I believe it helps to begin forming situational awareness (SA).