Leadership is both a field of study and a functional skill that includes a person or enterprise's capacity to control or direct other people, teams, or entire organizations. Specialist research explores different perspectives, comparing Eastern and Western approaches to leadership, as well as American and European attitudes. U.S. academic contexts define leadership as a mechanism of social influence wherein an individual may mobilize the help and support of others in the accomplishment of a mutual task. Leadership studies have created theories regarding situational interaction, traits, structure, behavior, control, vision and values, individuality, and intellect, among other qualities.

Leadership learning enhances the potential of individuals to perform leadership roles within a business framework. Leadership roles are those that promote the implementation of the business strategy by generating consensus, gaining the mindshare, and extending the ability of others. Leadership mantles may be formal, with the appropriate authority to arrive at decisions and shoulder responsibility, or maybe informal with minuscule official authority such as team members who control team participation, intent and direction; lateral partners who should listen and bargain by influence.