Critical Leadership Theory

This book contributes five novel tenets for building a critical theory of leadership studies. Drawing from transdisciplinary insights, these tenets help shape the emerging field of inquiry. They also facilitate the examination of normative social processes that reinscribe hegemonic power relations — because much of what is accomplished in current leadership scholarship, teaching, and practice reinforces these power relations. The book begins by contrasting critical theory with positivist approaches to analyzing social phenomena, and what follows is an exploration of four broad disciplines using sub-components of leadership as an investigatory lens. The resulting five tenets are presented and discussed so that they may be picked up and used by scholars contributing to the developing field of critical leadership studies.

The facilitator's guide brings to life the content of the survey text, Leadership Theory. It offers instructive advice on how to prepare for the use of a critical perspective as well as providing practical resources to translate survey text content to practice. The facilitator's guide consists of: An overview of how to use the guide as well as recommended skills and reflection questions for educators prior to implementing material. Objectives, critical concepts, a chapter overview, and a chapter framework for each chapter from Leadership Theory Lesson plan "walk-throughs" containing 2-3 activities for each chapter of the survey text, with information for learning outcomes, activity setup, and additional notes for facilitation.

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive literature review on leadership. As well as offering critical insight into leadership research, the author addresses emerging paradigms and identifies new approaches. A vital tool for leadership students and scholars, the text will enable readers to demonstrate a critical awareness of current developments both in theory and practice of leadership and its importance in modern organizations. Both scholars and practitioners will find the engaging discussion in this book particularly useful as the author offers practical ideas for development and a much-needed unified theory on leadership.

This book explores an exciting new critical leadership model arising from critical theory and critical pedagogy traditions, and provides examples of applied critical leadership, ultimately expanding ways to think about current leadership models.

"In this edited volume, contributors draw on the work of Andrade and Morrell (2008) in articulating critical leadership praxis, as well as critical race theory and critical education leadership scholarship, in order to "offer new and generative theories of change; they make explicit power dynamics, social inequities, and taken-for-granted forms of stratification in educational organizations with the primary purpose of offering specific and useful frames, concepts, and practices to educational leaders that they can adopt in their own work. The goal is for educational leaders to develop their sense of agency and and their knowledge and professional competencies for taking an equity and inquiry stance in their work of transforming the organizations and people around them." The work is intended to provide a counter narrative to a broad literature in educational leadership that "reinscribe white middle-class male leadership styles, values, and priorities as an assumed and normative backdrop, both in terms of the frames used and the values and epistemologies promoted." The work is organized into four sections: Transforming Self; Transforming Educators; Transforming Organizations; and Transforming Systems. Contributors include practicing leaders, doctoral students with leadership experience, and leadership faculty and researchers"--

Critical approaches to leadership studies have sought to challenge the normative position of leadership as residing solely within the formal leader and have gone as far as to undermine the traditionally held assumption of leadership as a "real" phenomenon. The book offers a critical account of the nature of leadership and management in modern organizations. Specifically it examines the forces that affect the influence relationships between leaders and followers in public sector organizational settings and thus, how these relationships inform social influence processes. Although the book focuses on the case of a public sector organization in the UK, the findings are placed in the context of both leadership theory and research across the globe and the dissemination of 'new public management' worldwide. By acknowledging the criticisms concerning the weaknesses of conventional or mainstream leadership study and through the adoption of a critical perspective, Critical Leadership provides a deep and rich interpretation of the empirical material on leadership, thus making an outstanding contribution to the current literature.

This book is a critical historical analysis of leadership thought in the Western tradition, examining Classical Greek, medieval and modern social scientific theories of leadership, focussing on the assumptions and effects which arise from these ways of understanding leadership and offering a new basis for leadership theory-building.

A comprehensive volume on leadership theories and their applications—with an emphasis on social justice Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives is an interdisciplinary survey text designed for use in undergraduate or graduate classrooms. This trusted book provides an overview of essential theories in leadership studies, infusing critical commentary to enhance readers’ understanding and practice of leadership. The book uses compelling examples, reflective questions, and illustrations to cultivate your ability to engage as a critical learner. Powerful narratives from accomplished leaders around the world offer insights on the challenges and rewards of leadership. This revised edition incorporates the latest research in the field of leadership, as well as substantial changes aimed at bringing increased cohesion to the text. New narratives lend a fresh and relevant tone that today’s learners will appreciate. · Learn the fundamental concepts, origins, and evolution of 20+ leadership theories · Understand the pros and cons of different leadership theories, so you can apply them wisely and effectively · Consider the influences of ethics, justice, and social location on leadership · Focus on leadership practices that promote social justice and equality Students studying leadership, as well as professionals developing their leadership skills within specific disciplines, will gain a thorough appreciation of the real-world complexities of leadership and how the leading theories attempt to capture them.