The Leader Label

ISBN-13: 9783639146875 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 164 str.

Jeffrey Zacko-Smith

Opis

Our Postmodern and hyper-diverse world isincreasingly calling for highly flexibleunderstandings of both leaders and leadership. Drawing on extensive research into the history andpractice of the subject, in addition to personalexperience, the author explores leadership throughthe lens of Social Constructionism, a framework thatprovides the flexibility necessary to ensure thatleadership is available to everyone, in all contexts;essentialist understandings (such as trait theory)are shown as outdated and ill-equipped to be workablein diverse environments. After establishing a broadtheoretical base from which to work, the authordescribes a study that used Constructionismsuccessfully; investigating whether individualleadership perceptions could be influenced (sincethey are constructed socially) through the use ofmetaphor and narrative, which have been proven toeffect the way in which we all perceive the world.Results of this research indicate that leadershipperceptions can be influenced, and that leaders andleadership are, essentially, fully subjective andsocially constructed realities. Implications aremyriad, but point to developing leaders differently.

O autorze

Jeffrey D. Zacko-Smith, M.P.A., Ed.D., is Assistant Professor of
Leadership & Creative Studies with the International Center for
Studies in Creativity at the State University of New York,
Buffalo State College. His research focuses on Creative,
Authentic & Transcendent Leadership. He has published &
presented both nationally & internationally.