"The need for leaders in nearly every walk of life has indeed become critical, " state the authors of Leadership--Magic, Myth, or Method? "The relative scarcity of leadership nearly everywhere is cause for concern on the part of political, business, and other organized groups around the world." You probably agree with this statement. But are you willing to make decisions that affect other people? To be a leader? It is a huge responsibility. And even if you do have the inclination to lead others, you probably weren"t born with any of the charismatic characteristics that all great leaders seem to have. So why bother? According to authors J. W. McLean and William Weitzel, the answer is simple. Your contribution is needed. And you can obtain the specific knowledge and skills you need--and that all leaders share. Leadership--Magic, Myth, or Method? lays out the requirements for leaders today and provides a platform to help you develop your own "leadership paradigm." You"ll learn how to build rapport, enhance credibility, and be persuasive. You"ll also come away with a new personal definition of leadership based on reality, not myth. The authors challenge the twelve most basic assumptions about leading others and the most common reasons for playing it safe as a follower, such as: leadership is just too complicated for me; leaders must know everyone else"s job, as well as their own; leading is more stressful than following; leadership means being consistent. The book also provides a selective overview of pacesetting leadership studies, from the wisdom of Socrates and Plato to the contemporary models that form the base of successful leadership training today. You"ll cover the principles ofleadership (self-knowledge, management, motivation, planning, and building relationships) and learn how to apply them in your relationships with others. You"ll also learn the six key skills that every leader must possess, from communicating to problem solving. Leadership--Magic, Myth,