By looking at leadership supervisory behaviors, along with the character of the supervisor themselves, as falling on a continuum of behaviors, this book offers fresh insights into the relationship between the leader/supervisor and their direct reports. Using a spectrum, with empathy of the leader as a distinguishing variable, it discusses how a leader can develop from an uncivil supervisor to an effective one; how a leader who needs to change their character before being able to be a better supervisor can be recognized and developed; and how to identify where on the spectrum a particular leader would fit.

Ultimately, the book serves as a model of leadership characterization and development useful to academic scholars as well as scholar-practitioners who coach and consult in leadership development and to leaders at all levels in organizations.

Barbara Welss Eversole is a Professor of Human Resource Development at Indiana State University, USA. She researches global managerial and leader effectiveness, women leaders, work across generations, and mother scholars’ careers in the academy. Dr. Eversole has published in a variety of scholarly journals and presented at national and international conferences. She is also the co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of HRD Practice, Policy and Research and also serves on a number of editorial boards. Dr. Eversole teaches courses in managerial coaching, team effectiveness, organization development, HRD strategy, and work-life integration.