INTRODUCTION Collecting three months of the Wall Street Journal was a fairly simple task. Sitting down and reading articles every day was another story. Finding articles that exemplified leadership theories was a challenge at first. Once the articles that had been suggested were read, a better understanding of what was needed for the assignment was established. After much thought and re-reading one could see where leadership theories could connect to almost any topic. Understanding that leadership doesn't just exist in one company or organization can make the job much more interesting. There are many different types, styles, and theories of leadership that you will learn throughout your education. For the purposes of this article, five theories were chosen. The five theories are: Modeling the Way, Inspiring a Shared Vision, Empowering Others to Act, Challenging the Process, and Encouraging the Heart. These theories display exemplary leadership in distinctive ways. Each theory is different, but each allows a leader to chart the path to success. The Wall Street Journal offered an excellent sample of articles for each of the selected theories. The example articles provided prompted you to employ some degree of critical thinking. Seeing leadership in a different light, represented by the example articles, allowed us to break away from cookie-cutter thoughts about leadership. By examining the areas of the document that had been brought to the attention of the class one could gather interesting and diverse articles which all exemplified a theory of leadership. Reading the required materials and understanding the assignment provided a different perspective on what leadership…middle of paper…the importance of leadership is about. It is possible to see where leadership theories can go beyond established norms. Leadership is a valuable and versatile tool that can be used to promote growth and understanding in an individual and an organization. It is in your best interest to leverage some form of leadership if you want to make a difference in your life or organization. The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and leaders must be able to adapt accordingly. Using any of the five leadership theories mentioned above will allow a leader to ensure that his or her staff are working towards a unified future. Modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, empowering others to take action, challenging the process, and encouraging the heart are all effective theories of leadership. All these theories can help leaders in any type of industry.