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 John Malone, Jim Smith, Vinod Khosla, Thai Lee, and Maria Contreras-Sweet.

From David Gelles: The ‘King of Cable’ Behind a Charter-Time Warner Cable Deal

“John Malone made his fortune as a pioneering baron of American cable, and has had his hands in everything from the Discovery Channel to DirecTV.”

From McKinsey & Company: Thomson Reuters on making information useful

“The CEO of the news, information, and professional-software company, Jim Smith, discusses how truly meeting customer expectations is at the heart of the company’s effort to continue growing and digitally adapting.”

From Bill Snyder: Vinod Khosla: Be Wary of “Stupid Advice”

“A Silicon Valley VC shares his thoughts on persistence, the importance of believing, and when to ignore the spreadsheet.”

From David M. Ewalt: The Modest Tycoon Behind America’s Biggest Woman-Owned Business

“In fact, there’s nothing in trappings or manner to reveal what, until now, has been kept under wraps. Thai Lee owns the largest female-owned business in America, and apparently one of the top three minority-owned ones. And it’s made her a billionaire.”

From Adam Bryant: Maria Contreras-Sweet on Taking Your Skills With You

“Maria Contreras-Sweet, head of the Small Business Administration, says that making your skills applicable to different jobs can give you freedom.”