Leadership at the Crossroads [3 volumes] (Hardcover)

What is leadership? Not only has that question been debated since the beginning of human culture and society, but it's a moving target based on the definer, and the epoch. The definition can be thought-provoking and profound: "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him," (Lao Tzu, 6th century BC ). Or the profundity may lie shrouded in the prosaic: "A leader is one who has followers," (Peter Drucker, 20th century). However you define the concept, today's challenges for leaders of all stripes are monumental, and the need for effective leadership is huge. More than anything, this set travels farther and digs deeper than most leadership books. It takes us from mere explanations of leadership to an understanding of it as part of the human condition. In Leadership at the Crossroads, contributors from a wide variety of fields, including management, economics, political science, philosophy, sociology, history, literature, and psychology, explore the many facets of leadership. The set comprises: --Volume 1: Leadership and Psychology --Volume 2: Leadership and Politics --Volume 3: Leadership and the Humanities Topics include: ethics and accountability, leadership styles, the differences between leadership and management, the poison spread by toxic leaders, inspirational leadership, choosing and monitoring leaders, leadership development, women and minorities in leadership, leadership and diplomacy, leadership in literature and the arts, military leadership, and much more. Collectively, this set showcases traditional and emerging approaches to leadership in both theory and practice and raises new questions broughton by society's new challenges. It also suggests solutions for developing and promoting leadership in the corporate world, politics and diplomacy, religion, education, non-profits, and the arts. Whether identifying qualities that will serve a U.S. president well, or the characteristics of the essential "can-do" supervisor in today's corporation, Leadership at the Crossroads supplies insights and intelligence that will help leaders make the most of the challenges and opportunities lying before them.