Final answer:
Leadership should be defined as the social and informal sources of influence used to inspire action taken by others, focusing on inspiring and influencing team members, as opposed to the direct control often associated with management.
Step-by-step explanation:
If management is defined as getting things done through others, then leadership should be defined as the social and informal sources of influence that one uses to inspire action taken by others. The focus of leadership is on inspiring and influencing team members to achieve organizational goals. Unlike management, which may rely more on formal authority and processes, leadership involves guiding others towards a shared vision through motivation and by building trust and rapport with team members.
Leadership styles can vary from the hands-off approach seen in a laissez-faire leader to more direct and autocratic styles. Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y present two contrasting views on employees' motivations and the corresponding management approaches. In Theory X, employees are perceived to be inherently lazy and in need of direct supervision, whereas Theory Y posits that employees are self-motivated and capable of self-direction. The style a leader chooses greatly impacts the dynamics within the organization and the overall effectiveness of achieving goals.