Annotation Peg Thoms challenges the popular trend in theory and practice toward "transformational" or "visionary" leadership, arguing instead that leadership must be developed in context; many organizations, for example, don't need visionaries as much as they need "operational" leaders, people who get things done by focusing on present-day tasks, such as designing superior products and delivering exceptional customer service. This book provides guidance for how to recruit, select, and retain the right people for leadership positions at any level of the organization. Drawing from research conducted in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, Thoms features powerful examples of effective and ineffective leadership in a variety of situations, and sheds light on the complex relationships between leaders and those who follow them.