Leadership : Theory and Practice

Stay tuned for the Fourth Edition coming November 2006! 1-4129-4161-X
The Fourth Edition has been expanded to include more leadership topics, research findings, questionnaires, case studies, and everday applications.

Now includes Instructor′s Resources on CD-ROM containing multiple PowerPoint slides for each chapter! Order your CD today!


The Third Edition of this bestselling text reviews and analyzes the foremost leadership theories, giving special attention to how each theoretical approach can be applied in real-world organizations. For anyone seeking to explore how an understanding of leadership theory can inform and direct the way leadership is practiced, Leadership: Theory and Practice is an indispensable tool. Adopted as a textbook at over 250 colleges and universities, this bestselling volume is equally useful for private-sector leadership development training programs.

New to this Edition:

• A chapter titled "Skills Approach", which focuses on the essential competencies leaders need to achieve effective performance
• New research sources, innovative models, new case studies, new figures and tables, additional research-based applications, and expanded discussions of current issues in leadership research
• New and expanded discussions of transformational leadership, team leadership, the psychodynamic approach, women and leadership and leadership ethics
• Includes Instructor′s Resources on CD-ROM containing multiple PowerPoint slides for every chapter

"Northouse′s third edition of Leadership: Theory and Practice is one of the clearest presentations of the major theories and concepts of leadership available in print anywhere. It should be required reading for every leadership program."
-- Dr.Thomas E. Matthews, Director, Leadership Education, Development & Training, SUNY Geneseo

"The third edition of Leadership by Northouse provides students with a powerful introduction to the strengths and limits of the social science strand of research in leadership. It provides application for undergraduates while for graduate students, it provides the context needed to plunge into reading research and developing research questions. At the same time, the book raises significant questions about the link between leadership and ethics and values."
--Roger Smitter, Ph.D., Director, Leadership, Ethics and Values Program, North Central College

 "Peter Northouse has produced a leadership textbook that is accessible to students, but solidly grounded in theory and research. He avoids the ′trap′ of making leadership appear too easy or trite, keeping his book serious and scholarly, but still interesting and enjoyable to read. I would feel confident that a student assigned Leadership: Theory and Practice is getting a sound introduction to the field."
--Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., Kravis Leadership Institute, Claremont McKenna College

"I have used Leadership: Theory and Practice for the past four years as the primary text for an undergraduate leadership course that I teach. The comprehensive nature of the chapters, critiques, exercises, self-assessment instruments, and case studies make it very user-friendly for students and faculty."
-- Lynn Hertrick Leavitt, Director, Center for Service and Leadership, George Mason University

"In his Third Edition, Northouse continues to update and enhance his leadership book.  As a textbook for college students, the author provides an outstanding bridge between the research developments and the practical uses for leadership theory. His case study examples are contemporary, intriguing, and enticing to students and teachers who seek enhancement to their study of leadership."
--Christine D. Townsend, Professor, Leadership Education, Texas A&M University

Peter G. Northouse, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Communication in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University. Leadership: Theory and Practice is the best-selling academic textbook on leadership in the world and has been translated into 15 languages. In addition to authoring publications in professional journals, he is the author of Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice (now in its sixth edition) and co-author of Leadership Case Studies in Education (now in its fourth edition) and Health Communication: Strategies for Health Professionals (now in its third edition). His scholarly and curricular interests include models of leadership, leadership assessment, ethical leadership, and leadership and group dynamics. For more than 40 years, he has taught courses in leadership, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, he is a consultant and lecturer on trends in leadership research, leadership development, and leadership education. He holds a doctorate in speech communication from the University of Denver, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication education from Michigan State University.