Effective leadership is critical to the successful development of continuing education programs. Thus, combining the results of research on leadership and program development holds promising implications for improving the process of developing continuing education programs. Most research on leadership can be classified as following the power-influence, trait, behavior, or situational approach. Studies using each of the four methodologies are consistent in their finding that leaders (1) have a vision or an intention as to where the organization is headed and how it will get there, (2) communicate their intentions, (3) give themselves to accomplishing their intentions, and (4) motivate others to do the same. The continuing education leader's approach to his or her role will influence the program development process and thus will ultimately affect the end result of the program. For this reason, leaders of continuing education program development should possess and use the human, technical, and conceptual skills necessary to accomplish program goals and to empower their fellow planners, instructors, evaluators, and other colleagues to participate in the program planning and development process. (MN)