This book presents a lively debate surrounding the professionalization of leadership. With contributions from both sides of the argument, it considers the historical overview of leadership and management as a profession, questions what constitutes a profession, and critically addresses the practicality of professionalizing leadership. With a range of perspectives including political philosophy, behavioral professionalism and management history, the book intends to facilitate further discussion on the issues at stake. With a number of education programs beginning to focus on the art and practice of leading people, this debate is particularly timely.
1 Background and introduction: leadership as a profession and as main theme on bachelor programs.
2 What is a profession, and what are the prerequisites for being a profession?.
3 How and why management has not become a profession.
4 Management as a profession: the historians perspective.
5 The professional leader man of many talents or Jack of all trades? Five questions about professional leadership.
6. Leadership as a profession: a special case dependent on organizational ownership, governance, mission and vision.
7 Can leadership become a profession?.
8 Against professionalizing leadership: the roles of self-formation and practical wisdom in leadership.
9 The case for behavioral professionalism in leadership.
10 Professionalizing political leaders is this the cure? Lessons from political theory.
11 The future of management: global trends and possible scenarios of development of managerial profession.
12 Management/leadership profession, professional, professionalization.
13 Leadership, management, and the common good.