I think that one of the best ways to learn leadership isn’t studying “leadership” at all. Instead, study individual leaders in their natural habitat and decide what they do that you want to try. Articles by and about leaders and interviews with them are mini-case studies that show you an actual leader in a real situation.

That’s why, every week, I bring you a selection of post about individual leaders. This week I’m pointing you to pieces by and about Scott Sheffield, Jimmy Dunne III, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Clarke Allen, and Jason Vaughn.

From Bryan Gruley and Joe Carroll: How Oil’s Most Boring CEO Found Himself Atop 10 Billion Barrels

“Pioneer had no idea it had the prime position in what might be the biggest oil patch in U.S. history.”

Thanks to Smartbrief on Leadership for pointing me to this story

From Adam Bryant: Jimmy Dunne III: Delivering the Truth Without Novocain

“You’ve got to be brutally honest with people about where they stand. And you do them a disservice by sugarcoating it or by not giving them the absolute facts. That evolved into what I call my infinite-finite strategy.”

From David Gewirtz: Five lessons Walt Disney and Steve Jobs can teach us about innovation

“At the time of his death, Apple founder Steve Jobs was the largest shareholder of the Walt Disney Company. When Jobs sold Pixar to Disney, he received 7.7 percent of Disney in return for his share of Pixar. But what most people don’t realize is just how similar in personality and style Steve Jobs was to Walt Disney. Both were visionaries, founders, and innovators.”

From Celeste Smith: Event planner lost his biggest customer: Oprah. Here’s what he did next.

“As Johnson C. Smith University gets ready for Oprah Winfrey to speak to its graduation class on Sunday, longtime Charlotte event planner Clarke Allen is reflecting on how he lost the media star’s business – and how that crushing disappointment inspired him to reshape his company. Allen shares his story:”

From Alex Coolidge: Latest Frisch’s CEO charts a new path

The new boss was hired in April by Atlanta-based NRD Capital after a seven-month search. The private equity firm acquired the iconic Walnut Hills-based chain last year. Vaughn took time off from the late lunch rush to field a few questions from The Enquirer. Here are highlights: