Product Description

`It is very well organised in terms of the relevant theories, research, case studies of appropriate companies and plenty of quotes from leading chief executive officers and others in leadership roles.... As a text for undergraduates or postgraduates, it is a good buy, full of useful material' - Professor Cary L Cooper, The Times Higher

`The book will appeal to anyone who is serious about knowing more about leadership and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to aspiring and established managers and clinicians who want to further develop their leadership skills' - Learning Disability Practice

Leadership today is a hot topic, with a mushrooming but fragmented literature. Theory and Practice of Leadership provides a comprehensive and critical review of the major theories of leadership and clearly lays out a more holistic understanding of leadership that integrates the disparate approaches and theories.

Throughout the book, the author uses illustrative examples and cases, drawn from research and practice in the UK, mainland Europe and the USA, enabling students to better relate the theories to real cases and their own experience. A clear picture of leadership theory and development is set out through accessible language and a focus on bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Theory and Practice of Leadership is essential reading for anyone needing a clear overview of the theories and practice behind this growing field. The book will be used by postgraduate students pursuing an MBA or other courses in leadership, business management, organizational behaviour, HRM and organizational strategy. (20060919)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73053 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Review
"I found this book to be a very useful resources for the future. . .  I found Gill's points to be very easy to understand. This book seems to be more geared to advanced scholars of leadership than to actual leaders. " (Matthew J. Grawitch Contemporary Psychology APA Review of Books )

Customer Reviews

A great british text on leadership
At last a well-written, balanced and insightful british book on leadership. It is a real tour-de-force. It is probable that every theory and assertion of consequence is commented upon. I would have liked him to have been more critical and to have put the boot in some of the over-hyped promulgations that litter the field of leadership. With such a thorough account of the topic he has certainly earned the right to do so.
It will meet the needs of management students and of the more thoughtful managers who are not looking for a quick fix for their leadership problems.
This certainly is a major text that will be difficult to follow for many years.

Good start, trails off and gets repetitive toward the end
I purchased and read this book as a requirement for an MBA course I'm currently studying.

The author has written the start of the book with a well categorised and thorough introduction to leadership. Although some theories are brief in their description, the author offers an in depth look in to current theories of leadership in the 'all encompassing model'.

Unfortunately, as the introduction to leadership ends and more subject matter is introduced Gill 'skips over' many of the theories that have been the foundation of his writings. Having previously studied many of the theories and subject matter contained within the book, I became disappointed with the lack of information contained in some areas of it; the chapter on motivation may as well read "look elsewhere". Similarly, the content becomes repetitive and overlaps across chapters, with a reliance on chinese proverbs and direct quotes to fill the pages.

The author has a tendency to focus on his own viewpoints and takes advantage of only a select few theories. Therefore, if you are looking for an introduction to leadership, this is not the book for you. However, if you have already been introduced to the subject matter and can identify when there is a lack of content, this book should be adequate as a 'refresher'.