Exploring the concept of leadership, this book presents a collection of historical case studies and insightful essays focused on renowned leaders throughout history. Grint delves into their unique qualities, decisions, and the contexts that shaped their leadership styles, offering a nuanced understanding of what it means to lead effectively. Through these portraits, readers gain valuable perspectives on the complexities and challenges of leadership across different eras and cultures.
Napoleon. Bill Gates. George W. Bush. Osama bin Laden. Leaders and leadership are perennial topics of debate. What is leadership? How does one become a leader? Do we actually need leaders? In this Very Short Introduction , Keith Grint offers provocative answers to these questions, prompting readers to rethink their assumptions about what leadership is. Indeed, Grint argues that leadership is a very elusive quality, and that there are few definitive answers to be found, which explains why most books on leadership produce so much heat and so little light. But there are important questions to ask, questions which shed light on why leadership so resists definition. Grint looks at the way leadership has evolved from its earliest manifestations in ancient societies, highlights the early ideas about leadership found in Plato, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli and others, considers how social, economic, and political forces can undermine particular modes of leadership, and discusses the practice ofmanagement, its history, future, and influence on all aspects of society.
Limits and Possibilities offers a critical discussion of leadership that draws upon a wide range of approaches, material and examples to demonstrate the complex and challenging role of leadership and through this debate suggests possible ways to improve as a leader. It is structured around 5 key aspects of person, product, position, process and purpose, providing a useful organizing framework. It combines theoretical discussions with lively examples to bring the subject alive.
