What are the main characteristics of effective leadership? How can we understand leadership today? This wide-ranging, inter-disciplinary book provides readers with a complete introduction to the essentials of leadership.Included here are accessible and insightful entries on what leadership is, how it is practised and the relevant strengths and pitfalls.The book provides a one stop introductory guide to one of the most central and contested concepts in the social sciences. An invaluable reference tool, this book offers insight into issues such as: • Are leaders born or made? • Authoritarian versus participative leadership • The psychology of leaders and followers • Leadership development • Leadership styles, skills and functions • Leadership in practice This book is an indispensable guide to the central concepts of leadership for professionals and students alike.