Synopses & Reviews
Today we often look to our leaders in business, government, or the social sector, to make effective decisions in a complex world. Whether they are asked what steps to take to improve competitiveness in a global economy or to make tough ethical choices, well-trained leaders are critical to organizational effectiveness. Although we know much about leadership development for individuals after they take their first job, we know relatively little about their earlier experiences that contributed to their interest in leadership or subsequent effectiveness as leaders. This volume brings together researchers who explore leadership at different points before individuals enter the workforce and asks important questions surrounding definitions of leadership behavior, necessary leader skills and age-related leader tasks, factors contributing to development of leader identity, and ways to improve the process of leader development.? With contributions from well-known leadership researchers such as Robert Sternberg, Howard Gardner, Bruce Avolio, and Susan Komives, the volume shows research evidence for factors such as early childhood and youth experiences on leadership development, which have implications for the way we understand and train leadership in today's organizations.?
Synopsis
Today more than ever, there is a need for leadership. We spend billions in our organizations attempting to develop leaders to provide compelling visions, manage their people effectively, and steer the organizations to profitability. Few books pull together the thinking and research that spans the development of leadership from birth through college. By focusing on leadership behaviors of very young children and adolescents, we can learn how to expand the potential of each and every person, during a time when skills and perspectives are easily learned.