Thinking Differently about Leadership: A Critical History of Leadership Studies

Thinking Differently about Leadership asks why and how we have come to understand leadership in the way we now do, and the consequences which arise from these understandings. Its critical interrogation of Classical Greek, Medieval and modern social scientific ideas reveals that troubling assumptions and problematic expectations are key features of leadership theorizing both in the past and today.

By tracing developments in leadership thought over time, this book reveals the influence of ideas from the past on current thinking, inviting reflection on what we now seek from leaders and followers. Its unique, multi-faceted analysis identifies non-scientific factors which have profoundly influenced the development of leadership science in the modern era. Arguing that conventional understandings of leadership today are deeply problematic, the book examines why we ought to think differently about leadership and offers an approach for so doing.

The book offers a framework for leadership theory-building which readers can use to apply to their own context, making it an ideal resource for critical management and leadership scholars as well as students and practitioners who will value its novel focus and perspective.

Suze Wilson, Senior Lecturer, School of Management, Massey University, New Zealand