Abstract:

People were interested in the ability to lead from the moment they started to come together in groups, in order to achieve goals. Some of the most valuable writings about leadership can be finded in ancient texts, especially in the texts of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. The importance of this ancient doctrine contribution is to reveal that the individuals are able to express what is best in them through leadership, encourage and influence others to do the same. This meaning is that if a leader is good, then those who follow him are the same. Confucius said that in order for an individual to be completed as a person, he must complete the others, thus identifying the idea of those who follow the leader, the adherents or followers, and the concern of the leader about their development. However, the interest in understanding leadership has begun to grow in the 20th Century. At the beginning of the century, it was believed that leaders are born, and studies focused on the characteristics identified by psychologists. But after many years of study, there were not identified any differences between leaders and the others.