Understanding Leadership

About this book

Lao Tzu Marx the Buddha Ibsen Machiavelli these are just a few of the worlds great thinkers who have weighed in on the subject of leadership over the centuries. Yet the contemporary student of leadership often overlooks many of these names in favour of more recent theorists hailing from the social sciences. Understanding Leadership: An Arts and Humanities Perspective takes a different angle employing the works of the great philosophers authors and artists found in world civilization and presenting an arts and humanities perspective on the study of leadership. The authors build their conceptual framework using The Five Components of Leadership Model which recognizes the leader the followers the goal the environmental context and the cultural values and norms that make up the leadership process. Supporting the text are a wealth of case studies which reflect on works such as Ayn Rands novella Anthem Eugne Delacroixs painting Liberty Leading the People Charlie Chaplins film Modern Times Athol Fugards play "Master Harold" . . . and the Boys Lao Tzus poetic work Tao Te Ching and Antonn Dvoks New World Symphony. The authors also introduce studies from various world cultures to particularly illustrate the role cultural values and norms play in leadership. This illuminating framework promotes the multidimensional thinking that is necessary for understanding and problem solving in a complex world. Understanding Leadership: An Arts and Humanities Perspective will be a valuable textbook for both undergraduate and postgraduate leadership students while leadership professionals will also appreciate the books unique liberal arts and cultural approach.