At some point in your career, you have to take on additional responsibilities. For most people, this means more work, higher expectations, and often managing other people. Whether you are walking directly into a management role, promoted into a management position, or even if you have been a manager for a while, companies expect you to understand many basics of management theory. Ironically, few organizations provide any training or even guidance on how to manage others effectively.

When you find yourself in this circumstance, people often start talking to you about management styles, motivating people, and the difference between 'management' and 'leadership'. This last point has always been a particular favorite of mine. The first time I learned the concept of leadership, I had just earned a promotion to a department lead position at a large retail store. The promotion meant I would have to help open and close the store, I was responsible for dusting the shelves, and of course, I had to manage three other people. I watched a one-hour Computer-Based Training module that thanked me for my dedication and espoused the company's belief in me as a leader. At that point, I was extremely confused.

When I think of leaders, I picture combat-hardened Generals, Presidents, and Heroes. Charismatic people who motivate, inspire, and command large groups of people. Not a college student responsible for ensuring dust-free shelves by a team of three other college students.

In the years since that first promotion, I have learned what that organization attempted to teach me in one hour. In this book, we will review many basic leadership theories through the lens of the strongest, fiercest, most arrogant, and sometimes the ugliest figures in Greek mythology.