Complexity and Leadership

This book challenges the conventional discourse on leadership and presents a way of thinking about leadership that pays closer attention to experience. The contributors resist easy solutions, new typologies, or unrealistic prescriptions and focus on understanding leadership as a practice within which communication, research, imagination, and ethical judgements are continuously improvised. It is written for academics and practitioners with an interest in the everyday challenges of individual and group practices of formal and informal leaders in different types of organizations and is an ideal resource for executives and students on leadership development programmes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the dynamic landscape of today's world, leading organizations face a myriad of challenges that demand adaptability, resilience, and continuous conflict resolution. The pace of change has accelerated, leaving leaders with the impossible task of meeting high expectations. The search for solutions has been inundated with countless recommendations, self-help books, and new concepts, often simplifying and idealizing leadership. However, this book challenges the conventional discourse on leadership and presents a fresh perspective that emphasizes the importance of experience.

The contributors to this book, all experienced senior managers or facilitators of leadership development, shun easy solutions, new typologies, or unrealistic prescriptions. Instead, they share their insights from their diverse experiences in Denmark, the UK, Israel, Ethiopia, South Africa, and beyond. Their focus lies less on the possession of specific traits or the promise of magical recipes for success and more on the socio-political process that unfolds through the interactions between individuals, ultimately giving rise to leadership as a theme.

We approach leadership as a practice that is constantly improvised, encompassing communication, research, imagination, and ethical judgments. Rather than idealizing leadership or reducing it to mere tools and techniques, we propose that leaders can enhance their political, emotional, and social acuity. This book is designed for academics and practitioners interested in exploring the complexities of both individual and group practices of formal and informal leaders across various organizations. It serves as an invaluable resource for executives and students enrolled in leadership development programs, offering wisdom and insights that can be drawn from personal experiences.

By delving into the experiences of these contributors, readers are invited to expand their own wisdom and discover the untapped potential within themselves. This book serves as a catalyst for personal growth and development, empowering leaders to navigate the challenges of the modern world with resilience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the human dynamics that shape leadership.

Weight: 648g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367544812