Defining leadership

Thinking about Lambert's assumption "How we define leadership frames how people will participate in it". Leadership qualities have certainly changed over the years. I think back to my first job out of college and the kind of leader my boss was. I can still remember the day I went to sign a lease on a new apartment at lunch time and was late getting back to the office. When I arrived my boss was sitting at my desk, looked up at me, and said "you're late. Don’t ever let it happen again". Then got up and walked away. I was scared to death. I was never late again. No discussion, no group decision, no pleading my case. I use this story in my classroom for a number of reasons, but primarily to let my students know how things have changed and how lucky they are to live in a time when they can be a part of the whole process. I just can't imagine that in a school environment. I am sure there are principals out there who feel they are the extreme leader and everyone must do what they command. I believe I read in our discussion forum of one such school where the superintendent makes all the decisions. I don't think this works well in the education environment. Each teacher needs to be their own leader, in their classroom, in their department and outside of school. If the only leadership qualities we see are those of a despot, how are we to develop as good leaders? What qualities would we be handing down to our students? I want to learn from someone every day; I want to be a part of the process that goes on at my school. It needs to be a cooperative, shared vision as Lambert outlines in a Quadrant 4 school to be successful for us and our students.