The history of humankind is replete with stories of leaders leading others (armies, groups, organizations, societies) 'somewhere,' sometimes for good and sometimes for ill (Beerel, 2009, p.62).

There have been:

• military and political leaders,
• spiritual and religious leaders,
• leaders in science and technology,
• organizational and business leaders,
• leaders in music and art and so on.

The ‘somewhere' may be a geographical place, a new level of social awareness, access to new scientific and technological insights, economic success, or new belief systems and ideologies (Beerel, 2009, p.62).

The topic of leadership continues to preoccupy us in every sphere of life. Whether it is

• questioning our own capacities for leadership;
• considering leadership in our family systems;
• looking at leadership at work; or
• assessing leadership in the political sphere, the desire to experience 'leadership' in some shape or form is invariably present (Beerel, 2009, p.62).

Next pages of this section will give examples of some leaders who have had a major influence in the world.