1. A leader inspires, motivates, and leads people to accomplish organizational goals. Leadership involves influencing a group toward a common objective. 2. There are three main leadership styles: autocratic, where the leader makes unilateral decisions; democratic, where the leader includes the team in decision-making; and delegative, where the leader gives decision-making authority to team members. 3. Effective leadership characteristics include taking challenges to grow, accepting mistakes, frequent communication, understanding situations, competence, and confidence. The leadership style impacts organizational performance and employee satisfaction.