Book excerpt: A crucial component of leadership is the element of choice. Regardless of how much a person studies leadership, it is essential that he or she makes a conscious choice to accept the leadership role. This book defines leadership, gives examples of research in the field and explains how this knowledge can be used, describes leadership-development programs and surveys, and considers the literature of leadership. Chapters 1 through 4 define leadership and describe ways in which it might be exercised. Chapters 5 and 6 highlight research methods used to demonstrate the impact of improved leadership. The seventh and eighth chapters describe a leadership-development program at a well-known training center, with a focus on the tests and materials completed by participants before arrival and the actual program activities. Various programs in the education and training of leaders and managers are described in chapter 9. The ways in which experience develops and modifies leaders' behaviors are reviewed in the 10th chapter. Chapter 11 examines the uses of survey methods to assess the mood of group members and inform leaders of the effectiveness of their communication programs. Studies of the use of power and position and the outcomes of such use are reviewed in the 12th chapter. Chapter 13 summarizes literature on leadership and cultural differences, and chapter 14 highlights how reported studies can help leaders work better with followers and organizations to achieve objectives. A total of 127 propositions offered throughout the book are summarized in the final chapter. Chapter notes, 8 tables, 6 figures, and an index are included. The appendix contains a list of questions for self-review. (Contains 212 references.) (LMI)