Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice » (New Edition)

Peter G. Northouse, PhD, is Professor of Communication in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University. For more than 20 years, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, interpersonal, and organizational communication. In addition to publications in professional journals, he is the author of Leadership: Theory and Practice (4th ed.) and coauthor of Health Communication: Strategies for Health Professionals (3rd ed.). His scholarly and curricular interests include models of leadership, leadership assessment, ethical leadership, and leadership and group dynamics. He has worked as a consultant in a variety of areas, including leadership development, leadership education, conflict management, and health communication. He holds a doctorate in speech communication from the University of Denver, and a master's and bachelor's degree in communication education from Michigan State University.

Offering a straightforward introduction to the basic principles of leadership, Peter G. Northouse s Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice focuses on providing readers with practical strategies for becoming better leaders. An applied text by the author of the SAGE best-seller Leadership: Theory and Practice, Fourth Edition, this new text provides the much needed "how-to" component of leading for students in leadership courses.

Three interactive components in every chapter - self-assessment questionnaires, observational exercises, and reflection and action worksheets - get readers actively involved in applying leadership concepts to their own lives. Grounded in leadership theory, yet accessible and reader-friendly, this book covers a fundamental aspect of leadership in each chapter and illustrates its application in real leadership situations. A final chapter discusses the key topic of ethics in leadership.

Key Features

• Looks at one quality of leadership per chapter, making it easier for readers to understand and apply material to their own lives
• Uses examples and case studies to illustrate each fundamental aspect of leadership (creating a vision, listening to out-group members, and overcoming obstacles, for example)
• Encourages readers to complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire before reading each chapter to explore their own leadership styles and preferences
• Guides readers in examining behaviors of leaders from their own lives through each chapter s Observational Exercise
• Includes Reflection and Action Worksheets that encourage readers to reflect upon their own leadership styles and identify an action plan for improving their leadership skills

1 Being a Leader 1

2 Recognizing Your Traits 11

3 Recognizing Your Philosophy and Style of Leadership 35

4 Attending to Tasks and Relationships 53

5 Developing Leadership Skills 65

6 Creating a Vision 87

7 Setting the Tone 105

8 Listening to Out-Group Members 123

9 Overcoming Obstacles 141

10 Addressing Ethics in Leaderhsip 154

Index 179