This is one of the first books to fully value and realise the connection between leadership and learning in SMEs. It provides a real-life narrative, encapsulating the development of business people on a leadership programme for SME managers, whilst explaining the key theories, models and techniques that underpin the leadership methods and approaches deployed at each stage of the delegate’s journey. The authors examine comprehensive data sources associated with three managers within SMEs and follow them over a ten-month period. Each chapter splits into two an aesthetic narrative on the learning journey and a ‘theory sandwich’, which draws the reader’s attention to the theories, models and debates underpinning the learning at each stage of the delegate’s journey. A cycle of leadership learning through ‘lived experience’ is outlined and the importance of leadership learning within a community of practice and developing concurrently three key capitals - human, social and institutional capitals - are emphasised.