Great people over the centuries have grappled with the meaning of effective leadership. In that same spirit of inquiry, the authors' goal is to inform and stimulate rather than to "mold" future leaders. As with any subject, knowledge of the basics - those great thoughts that have shaped understanding about that subject - is the foundational platform upon which to build your knowledge of leadership. This book was created to help readers understand the many dimensions of leadership theory. It provides a comprehensive overview of the major theories in leadership studies. It is not intended, however, to be heavily theoretical. The authors include only the basic elements of the various conceptions of leadership. They survey ideas, their importance to leaders and followers, and their applicability to the process of leadership.