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Leadership
Theory, Application, & Skill Development

Eighth Edition
Courses:
Leadership | Leadership
February 2026 | 632 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Leadership: Theory, Application, and Skill Development provides an engaging introduction to leadership theories and concepts. Bestselling authors Robert N. Lussier and Christopher F. Achua use examples and step-by-step behavioral models to help prepare students for a wide range of leadership situations and challenges. The updated Eighth Edition includes 6 new cases and updated cases throughout that profile a diverse group of business leaders, as well as new coverage of crisis leadership, servant leadership, social impact, and high-performing organizations.

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Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: Individuals As Leaders
 
Chapter 1: Who Is a Leader and What Skills Do Leaders Need?
Introduction

 
Leadership and Leadership Development

 
Defining Leadership With Five Key Elements

 
Leadership Skills

 
Leadership Managerial Roles

 
Levels of Analysis of Leadership

 
Leadership Theory Paradigms

 
Objectives and Organization of the Book

 
 
Chapter 2: Leadership Traits and Ethics
Introduction

 
Personality and Traits

 
The Big Five Including Traits of Effective Leaders

 
The Personality Profile of Effective Leaders

 
Leadership Attitudes

 
Ethical Leadership

 
Guides to Ethical Behavior

 
 
Chapter 3: Leadership Behavior and Motivation
Introduction

 
Leadership Behavior and Styles

 
University of Michigan and Ohio State University Leadership Models

 
The Leadership Grid

 
Leadership and Motivation

 
Content Motivation Theories

 
Process Motivation Theories

 
Reinforcement Theory

 
Schedules of Reinforcement

 
Putting the Motivation Theories Together Within the Motivation Process

 
 
Chapter 4: Contingency Leadership Theories
Introduction

 
Contributions to Contingency Leadership Theories and Models

 
Contingency Leadership Theory and Model

 
Leadership Continuum Theory and Model

 
Path–Goal Leadership Theory and Model

 
Normative Leadership Theory and Models

 
Putting the Behavioral and Contingency Leadership Theories Together

 
Leadership Substitutes Theory

 
 
Part II: Leadership Skills
 
Chapter 5: Communication, Coaching, and Conflict Skills
Introduction

 
Communication and Leadership

 
Sending Messages and Giving Instructions

 
Receiving Messages

 
Coaching

 
The Coaching Model and Mentoring

 
Managing Conflict

 
Collaborating Conflict Management Style Models

 
 
Chapter 6: Influencing: Power, Politics, Networking, and Negotiation
Introduction

 
Influencing and Power

 
Types of Power and Influencing Tactics

 
Organizational Politics

 
Networking

 
Negotiation

 
Influencing Varies Globally

 
 
Part III: Team Leadership
 
Chapter 7: Leader–Member Exchange and Followership
Introduction

 
From Vertical Dyadic Linkage Theory to Leader–Member Exchange Theory

 
Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) Theory

 
Factors That Influence the Quality of LMX Relationships

 
LMX Contribution and Criticisms

 
Followership

 
A Follower’s Influencing Potential

 
Delegation

 
 
Chapter 8: Team Leadership and Self-Managed Teams
Introduction

 
The Shift From Functional Hierarchies to Team-Structure Models

 
Types of Teams

 
Decision Making in Teams

 
Leadership Skills for Conducting Effective Team Meetings

 
Self-Managed Teams

 
 
Part IV: Organizational Leadership
 
Chapter 9: Managing Change and Crisis Leadership
Introduction

 
Leading Organizational Change

 
Resistance to Change

 
Crisis Leadership

 
Crisis Planning and Implementation

 
Crisis Communication

 
 
Chapter 10: Charismatic, Transformational, and Servant Leadership
Introduction

 
Charismatic Leadership

 
How Is Charisma a Double-Edged Sword?

 
Transformational Leadership

 
Charismatic and Transformational Leadership

 
Servant Leadership

 
 
Chapter 11: Leadership of Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion
Introduction

 
Leadership and Organizational Culture

 
Culture Creation

 
Managing and Sustaining a Strong Culture

 
Strong High-Performance and Weak Low-Performance Cultures

 
Types of Organizational Culture

 
Ethical Organizational Culture and Authentic Leadership

 
Global Leadership

 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)

 
The Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 
Factors That Contribute to a Strong DE&I Culture

 
 
Chapter 12: Strategic Leadership and High-Performing Organizations
Introduction

 
The Impact of Globalization and Environmental Sustainability

 
Strategic Leadership

 
The Strategy-Making, Strategy-Execution Process

 
High-Performing Organizations (HPOS)

 
Key Success Factors of High-Performing Organizations

 
The Learning Organization and Knowledge Management

 
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
Name Index
 
Company Index
 
Subject Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • NEW! An AI Literacy module prepares students to engage confidently with today’s AI tools through an interactive, outcomes-focused experience—with minimal instructor lift and no course redesign required. Available exclusively in Sage Vantage and written by professors who teach and publish about AI, the AI Information Literacy, Academic Integrity, and Responsible AI Use module integrates video, data driven examples, applied activities, Knowledge Checks, and built-in assessments that help instructors track student understanding. Focused on strengthening critical thinking, the module teaches students how to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias while developing responsible prompting strategies that support academic success without compromising students’ intellectual growth.
  • 6 new case studies include profiles of Ruth Porat, CFO of Alphabet, Inc., and Priscilla Almodovar, CEO of Fannie Mae, and updated cases include a diverse group of leaders, including Satya Nadella, Kim Ng, Jose Andres, Alicia Garza, Joey Walt, Rosalind Brewer, LeBron James, Jess Kutch, and Beto Perez.
  • Reorganized Part IV: Organizational Leadership now covers change leadership with crisis leadership and covers strategic leadership with high-performance leadership.
  • 16 new Work Application examples throughout the text.
  • 3 new self-assessments ask students to reflect on their listening skills, and character traits.
  • New examples, references, statistics, and new coverage of emerging leadership trends and issues.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Chapter-opening and chapter-closing case studies illustrate how real leaders use theories and concepts to achieve their goals.
  • You Make the Call features provide scenarios that challenge students to make ethical, socially conscious decisions.
  • Self-Assessments help students understand their own unique leadership strengths.
  • Applying the Concept features help students check their understanding of key theories and concepts.
  • Developing Your Leadership Competences exercises tied to AACSB competencies provide students with opportunities to hone their leadership skills and confidence.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Ch1_2

Vantage Reference: 
Leadership - Vantage Learning Platform