ABSTRACT

Heroic Leadership is a celebration of our greatest heroes, from legends such as Mahatma Gandhi to the legions of unsung heroes who transform our world quietly behind the scenes. The authors argue that all great heroes are also great leaders. The term ‘heroic leadership’ is coined to describe how heroism and leadership are intertwined, and how our most cherished heroes are also our most transforming leaders. 

This book offers a new conceptual framework for understanding heroism and heroic leadership, drawing from theories of great leadership and heroic action. Ten categories of heroism are described: Trending Heroes, Transitory Heroes, Transparent Heroes, Transitional Heroes, Tragic Heroes, Transposed Heroes, Transitional Heroes, Traditional Heroes, Transforming Heroes, and Transcendent Heroes. The authors describe the lives of 100 exceptional individuals whose accomplishments place them into one of these ten hero categories. These 100 hero profiles offer supporting evidence for a new integration of theories of leadership and theories of heroism.

chapter 1|27 pages

Introduction

Leadership and Heroism

chapter 2|11 pages

Trending Heroes

Gaining or Losing Heroic Status

chapter 3|16 pages

Transitory Heroes

Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow

chapter 4|10 pages

Transitional Heroes

Those Whom We Outgrow

chapter 5|7 pages

Tragic Heroes

The Self-Destruction of Greatness

chapter 6|9 pages

Transposed Heroes

The Fine Line Between Heroism and Villainy

chapter 7|15 pages

Transparent Heroes

The Unsung Heroes Among Us

chapter 8|49 pages

Traditional Heroes

The Classic Hero's Journey

chapter 9|19 pages

Transfigured Heroes

The Cognitive Construction of Greatness

chapter 10|17 pages

Transforming Heroes

Those Who Forever Changed Our World

chapter 11|7 pages

Transcendent Heroes

Influence at its Deepest Level

chapter |11 pages

Conclusion

Leadership, Heroism, and Heroic Leadership