The History of Leadership Development

Before exploring what needs to change moving forward, it is critical to make sense of what has gone on before. This chapter outlines the history of leadership development describing the key ways in which it has evolved. The chapter maps out ten phases that leadership development has transitioned through. It begins with ‘Great Man Theory’ in 1927 and works through to ‘Responsible leadership - the new kid on the block’ in 2020. While a great deal has been written about leadership, very little has considered how leadership development has evolved. This chapter is a foundation from which readers can explore the future.