Abstract: Self-leadership, which is based on experiences gained from work and living, is a self-influence process through which people are self-motivated to achieve work requirements driven by intrinsic needs and guided by internalized standards. By reviewing the self-leadership literature abroad including its conception, construct structure measurement, empirical investigations, and current researches, the authors have identified some promising topics or trends of theoretical and practical significance. They are: (1) theoretical analysis and empirical verification of self-leadership effects; (2) the relationship between self-leadership and related personality traits; (3) maximization of the effects of self-leadership by leaders in organizations; and (4) self-leadership research in the Chinese context.

Key words: self-leadership, self-management, intrinsic motivation, social cognition