Exploring Leadership This Page Intentionally Left Blank ‘Exploring Leadership Is Both a Very Timely and Highly Relevant Book
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Exploring Leadership This page intentionally left blank ‘Exploring Leadership is both a very timely and highly relevant book. It has long been recognized that the nature of effective leadership owes much to context. But, recent history points to an acceleration in the shift of the contextual backdrop. International events of late demonstrate vividly the way in which the coalescence of the voices of the many on social media have supplanted the traditional power of individual leaders and their oratory which used to be the norm. As the authors emphasize, the related insights build only slowly over time and the delicate balance in the blend of individual and shared influences shifts as context changes. So, we now live in an age- where a diversity of leadership styles is an absolute requirement to address the ambiguity inherent in our complex world: an eclectic approach to leader- ship is indeed today’s requirement. Hence, the theme of “rerouting” rather than “uprooting” leadership studies is absolutely relevant as we face the challenges of the future, and this book makes the case with both conviction and fluency’. Sir Brian Burrage, Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Finmeccanica UK, and Former Air Chief Marshall, Royal Air Force, UK. ‘“Another” book on the “panacea” that is leadership? Importantly, both these issues are dealt with quickly and seriously in a very timely book. Given the focus on leaders and leadership in recent years, both with respect to the general view that our leaders are responsible for our difficulties and the vast amounts devoted to developing leaders, we need a critically balanced view that helps assess where we are and what questions need to be considered to take us forward. And that is what we get here’. Jeff Gold, Professor of Organisation Learning, Leeds Metropolitan Univer- sity, UK. ‘There are thousands of books on leadership but I wouldn’t recommend many of them. I would recommend this one. It’s a gem: contemporary, critical, well- written and provocative. What more would you want?’ Keith Grint, Professor of Public Leadership, Warwick Business School, UK ‘This multi-authored volume provides an engaging exploration of leadership from a variety of perspectives, but still manages to speak with a clear and compelling voice. The authors explain a wide range of issues and ideas in a lively manner that will involve readers in the uncovering of assumptions and the making of connections across contexts and disciplines. Exploring Leader- ship will encourage and inform reflection and debate among those who study, research, and participate in the dynamics of leadership on the personal, organizational, social, and even global level’. Eric Guthey, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. ‘Among the opening lines from this provocative book, coined by a gifted team of writers from the Centre for Leadership Studies (CLS), are the rhetorical: Not “another” book on leadership! My follow-up to this statement has to be noted for the record: But this is not your “typical” book on leadership! It is a journey through a leadership landscape that is like no other; so be prepared to hold onto your seats. Exploring Leadership is just that; an exploration into new territory in leadership studies, focusing less on classic individualistic ap- proaches, in favour of alternative contemporary emphases on leadership’s critical, relational, interpretive, and subjective nature. In this journey, readers will stop off for a refreshing critique of such emerging popular accounts as authentic, emotionally intelligent, competency, strategic, positive, and virtual models of leadership. They will also visit enlightening reviews of heretofore overlooked matters, such as work toxicity, nomadism, communityship, and anarcho-syndicalism. This volume needs to be read by all students of leader- ship, young and old. But I caution those expecting to be brought closer to a chimerical universal theory of leadership, be prepared for disappointment. Conversely, for those fearing that the account’s demystification will result in a leadership nihilism, I say, fear not. The authors have committed to “re- routing” us to leadership studies that in their processes are deeper and more nuanced – mapping the reality that confronts us – and in their out- comes, in the authors’ words, more “equitable, effective, and engaging”’. Joe Raelin, Asa S. Knowles Chair of Practice-Oriented Education, Northeastern University, USA. ‘There is no doubt that that this book will do what the authors themselves suggest, “to help readers navigate the complex and confusing terrain” that is leadership. Navigating this landscape is not an easy one given the popularity and plethora of material written on the subject. However, this experienced team of authors are all well known in their field and are well placed to offer an authoritative and considered “reality check” on the substance and importance of leadership in contemporary society’. Richard Thorpe, Professor of Management Development and Pro Dean (Research), Leeds University Business School, UK. ‘Offering important critical perspectives on the meaning and purpose of leader- ship, this book reframes leadership for the twenty-first century, and comes from a group of authors who have already made a significant contribution to the field. A vital book for all leadership scholars and students who seek to question the leadership assumptions that dominate mainstream leadership texts’. Sharon Turnbull, Visiting Professor, University of Gloucestershire, UK, and Former Director of Centre for Applied Leadership Research at the Leadership Trust, UK. Exploring Leadership Individual, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives Richard Bolden Beverley Hawkins Jonathan Gosling Scott Taylor 1 3 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX26DP Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York # Richard Bolden, Beverley Hawkins, Jonathan Gosling, and Scott Taylor 2011 The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) First published 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Data available Typeset by SPI Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by MPG Books Group, Bodmin and King’s Lynn ISBN 978–0–19–954765–4(Hbk.) ISBN 978–0–19–954766–1(Pbk.) 13579108642 To our students, whose questions have prompted so much thought. This page intentionally left blank TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES AND BOXES xi AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES xii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xiv 1. Introduction: Exploring Leadership 1 Not ‘Another’ Book on Leadership! 1 Leadership: The Panacea of our Times? 4 Changing Perspectives on Leadership 6 Studying Leadership 7 Dissatisfaction with Leadership and Management Theory and Education 10 Reframing Leadership Studies 13 Chapter Summary 15 2. Theoretical Perspectives on Leadership 17 The Contested Nature of Leadership 17 Philosophical Origins of Contemporary Leadership Theory 20 Leadership is Sexy and Management is Boring . or are they? 23 Contemporary Theories of Leadership 25 So, What is Leadership? 38 Chapter Summary 40 3. Individual Perspectives on Leadership 42 Leadership and Personality: What are Leaders LIKE? 42 Leadership Styles and Behaviours: What do Leaders DO? 46 Leadership and Identity: Who do you Think you are? 49 Keeping it Real: The Implications of Authentic Leadership 53 Are You Sitting Comfortably? Leaders as Storytellers 56 Leading from the Heart? Leadership and Emotions 59 Just Another Set of Traits? Critiques of Authentic and Emotionally Intelligent Leadership 64 Chapter Summary 65 x TABLE OF CONTENTS 4. Organizational Perspectives on Leadership 67 Leadership and Organizational Performance 68 Leadership and Power 73 Leadership Competencies: The Science of Leadership 78 Setting the Direction: Strategic Leadership 84 Rites, Rituals, and Belonging: Leadership and Organizational Culture 91 Setting the Scene: Putting Leadership into Context 96 Researching Leadership in Organizations 99 Chapter Summary 100 5. Societal Perspectives on Leadership 102 Being ‘One of us’: Leading in Communities 102 Being Global, Being Local, and Being Worldly 112 Saving Our Planet and Ourselves: Leading for Sustainability 116 Beauty