Embracing leadership: a multi-faceted model of leader identity development

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 630-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Douglas Muir
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Lay Leadership ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leader Identity ◽  
Development Professionals ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Identity Changes

Purpose – Leadership development has been replete with a skill-based focus. However, learning and development can be constrained by the deeper level, hidden self-knowledge that influences how people process information and construct meaning. The purpose of this paper is to answer the question of how people construct and develop their leader identity. The authors intend to shed light on the critical facets of identity changes that occur as individuals grapple with existing understanding of the self and of leadership, transform them, and absorb new personalized notions of leadership into their identity, resulting in a higher level of confidence acting in the leadership domain. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a grounded theory study of participants and their mentors in a lay leadership development program in a Catholic diocese. The authors inductively drew a conceptual model describing how leader identity evolves. Findings – The findings suggested that leader identity development was not a uni-dimensional event. Rather, it was a multi-faceted process that encompassed three key facets of identity development: expanding boundaries, recognizing interdependences, and discerning purpose. Further, it is the co-evolvement of these three facets and people’s broadening understanding of leadership that led to a more salient leader identity. Research limitations/implications – The model addresses the gap in literature on how leader identity develops specifically. It enriches and expands existing knowledge on leader identity development by answering the question of what specific changes are entailed when an individual constructs his or her identity as a leader. Practical implications – The findings could be used to guide leadership development professionals to build targeted learning activities around key components of leader identity development, diagnose where people are in their leadership journey, set personalized goals with them, and provide pointed feedback to learners in the process of developing their leader identity. Originality/value – The authors provide an in-depth and integrative account of the contents and mechanisms involved in the construction of the leader identity. The authors zero in on the critical transformations entailed in the process to establish and develop a leader identity.

Overcoming risk for women in leader identity development

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuala F. Ryan ◽  
Michelle Hammond ◽  
Sarah MacCurtain ◽  
Christine Cross
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leader Identity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of the role of risk in leader identity development for women by identifying processes women leaders employ to overcome perceived risk.Design/methodology/approachTwenty-five women leaders in the Irish healthcare sector took part in an 18-month long identity-based leadership development program. Qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, critical incident diaries and individual exit surveys and observations were analyzed using the constant comparative method.FindingsFour key processes are identified as women leaders work through risks associated with structural elements (perceiving and mitigating structural risk) and agency of the leader (accepting agentic risks and developing agency).Research limitations/implicationsLike many focused qualitative studies, generalizability to a larger population might be limited. The authors, therefore, recommend future research to consider these issues in other industries, levels and national contexts.Practical implicationsOrganizational members should pay attention to structural factors that affect women's perceptions of risks in internalizing a leader identity such as perceptions of organizational support for development, role models, mentoring and behavioral norms. Programs should aim to increase individual agency through personal reflection and freedom to experiment.Originality/valueThis paper offers an original and nuanced perspective on the role of risk in the leader identity development process for women.

Holistic Leader(ship) Development: An Integrative Process Model of Leader and Leadership Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Michael Schwartz ◽  
Pooja Khatija ◽  
Diana Bilimoria
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Leader Development ◽  
Leadership Capacity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Leader Identity ◽  
Capital Development

The question of how to efficiently, holistically, and successfully develop leaders has been the focus of scholars and practitioners for several decades. Embedding the process of leader development in organizational contexts allows participants to develop and apply leadership knowledge, skills, and identity awareness. Embeddedness facilitates the holistic integration of the interactive processes of leader development (which focuses on increasing the leadership capacity of an individual) and leadership development (which focuses on increasing the leadership capacity of an organization), which is referred to in this article as leader(ship) development (LD). Two sub-processes involved in LD (i.e., general and situational identity development and knowledge/skill/social capital development) and four mechanisms of embeddedness that facilitate holistic LD (i.e., leader identity integration, opportunities to learn and develop in the organization, organizational support and feedback, and helping relationships) will be described. A discussion on the ways by which management education pedagogy can integrate and facilitate embeddedness and provide guidance for future research will follow.

Identifying high potentials early: case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 684-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Kotlyar
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
University Students ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Potential ◽  
High Potentials ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Leadership Development Program

Purpose Driven by a shortage of leadership capacity, companies are seeking to identify leadership talent earlier. Some companies are introducing programs to identify leadership potential among university students and then hire “high potentials” directly into management designate roles. The purpose of this paper is to explore one such early-stage leadership development program. Currently, little information is available about these initiatives. Design/methodology/approach Case study based on interviews with 18 managers and director of HR and archival employee records. Findings This case study provides a detailed description of an early-stage leadership identification and development program. This program has been developed to identify leadership talent among senior university students prior to hiring and onboarding, provide support, training and development and fast-track them into leadership positions. The study provides insight into the challenges and effectiveness of an early-stage leadership program and offers some practical implications. Originality/value To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to document a leadership development program that identifies “high potentials” among university students for the purpose of developing them into company leaders.

Effectiveness of full range leadership development among middle managers

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1161-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teerapun Chaimongkonrojna ◽  
Peter Steane
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Effective Leadership ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Full Range Leadership ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the Full Range Leadership Development Program (FR-LDP) of middle managers of a furniture company in Thailand and explore how they experience the leadership development phenomenon. It addresses the fundamental question of how effective leadership behaviors occur and are sustained. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 31 middle managers completed a six-month multi-methods development program of three alternating training sessions and on-the-job practice. A 360-degree feedback survey of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X Short, comprising 284 questionnaires of “leaders” and “raters,” was used to measure the change in effective leadership behaviors and the overall leadership outcome. A sub-sample of 20 participants from these managers was selected for in-depth interviews at the end of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews and critical incident analysis was applied to understand the leadership experience of these managers. Findings – The study revealed that leadership behavior and overall outcome performance had improved over the course of the FR-LDP. The program did contribute positively to individual learning. Sustained effectiveness was not due solely to the development or intervention process, but also on individual objectives and action, together with supervisor interest and support. Research limitations/implications – The study provides a valid, in-depth insight into leadership in Thailand, which has practical application. However, the size of the sample may not be sufficient for broad generalizations in other cultural contexts or environments. Originality/value – The study extends the understanding of how middle managers develop transformational leadership in Thailand. The study contributes to how middle managers learn what they need to know, how they get to know it and factors that influence their practice of transformational leadership in their workplace. The findings provide to organizations options on resources, talent retention and sustaining organizational performance.

Towards understanding a multi-stakeholder approach in a youth leadership development program

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153
Author(s):  
Manuel J. De Vera ◽  
Jose Enrique R. Corpus ◽  
Donn David P. Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Youth Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Approach ◽  
Youth Leaders ◽  
Youth Leadership Development ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences gained by participants of youth leadership development (YLD) programs that introduce multi-stakeholder processes as part of its training within the last five years. Moreover, the study delves into how participants are able to apply leadership and multi-stakeholder processes in their everyday lives and in their communities. Design/methodology/approach A perception survey of 41 respondents was conducted to examine leadership concepts identified and youth leadership practices in different social reform contexts. Findings Diverse challenges in terms of multi-stakeholder mobilization were evident in youth leaders’ engagement in communities. In spite of this, the YLD programs’ emphasis on multi-stakeholder process is very much embedded in the current youth leaders’ practice. Research limitations/implications The study contributes to the conduct of YLD programs, as well as on stakeholder engagement. Moreover, it contributes to advancing public leadership theory and practice by demonstrating how it extends to youth leadership experiences. Practical implications Multiple dimensions of YLD, especially in the realm of multi-stakeholder engagement, are discussed that may contribute to YLD programs. Originality/value To the best of knowledge, the authors provide the first study that investigates the contribution of the Bridging Leadership Framework that utilizes a multi-stakeholder approach in a YLD program using empirical data.

Fueling leadership in yourself: a leadership development program for all types of health-care workers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Houchens ◽  
Stacy L. Sivils ◽  
Elizabeth Koester ◽  
David Ratz ◽  
Jennifer Ridenour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Care Workers

Purpose Leadership development may be a key strategy to enhance job satisfaction, reduce burnout and improve patient safety in health-care systems. This study aims to assess feasibility of a leadership development series in an effort to invigorate a collaborative culture, create peer networks and elevate autonomy in daily work. Design/methodology/approach The authors implemented a collectivistic leadership development series titled Fueling Leadership in Yourself. The series was designed for all types of health-care workers in the medicine service at a tertiary referral center for veterans. Two series of leadership development sessions with varied experiential learning methods were facilitated by content experts. Subjects focused on leadership approaches and attributes applicable to all roles within a health-care system. The authors collected participant perceptions using pre- and post-series surveys. Primary outcomes were understanding and applicability of leadership concepts, employee engagement in leadership, satisfaction with training and work environment and qualitative reflections. Findings A total of 26 respondents (of 38 participants) from 8 departments and several role types increased their knowledge of leadership techniques, were highly satisfied with and would recommend the series and found leadership principles applicable to their daily work. Participants continued to use skills years after the series. Practical implications Short, intermittent, collectivistic leadership development sessions appear effective in expanding knowledge, satisfaction and skills used in daily practice for a diverse group of health-care workers. Originality/value Novel programmatic aspects included inviting all types of health-care workers, practicing universally applicable content and using a variety of active, experiential learning methods.

Reflections from the field (mountain, cityscape and park): walking for management development and links to being-in-the world, belonging and “Ba”

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur F. Turner ◽  
Gareth Edwards ◽  
Catherine Latham ◽  
Harriet Shortt
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Management Development ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Story ◽  
The World ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

PurposeThe purpose of this paper, based on reflections from practice, is to shed light on the realities of using walking as a tool for learning and development. This is done through an initial analysis of longitudinal reflective data spanning seven years and connecting these reflections to the concepts: being-in-the-world, belonging and Ba.Design/methodology/approachThis research takes a practice based phenomenological and reflective approach. The value of this approach is to seek a new understanding, through three distinct conceptual frames, of the effective use of walking within management development.FindingsThe findings connect three conceptual approaches of being-in-the-world, belonging and “Ba” to the practicalities of delivery, thus encouraging practitioners and designers to deeply reflect on the role of walking in management development.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is that this is largely a personal story exploring the impact of an intuitively developed set of interventions. Despite this, the paper represents a unique and deep interpretation of walking as a mechanism for management development.Practical implicationsThe paper concludes with three recommendations to practitioners wanting to use walking in management development programmes. These are: facilitators need to be familiar with their surroundings; they should look for spaces and places where participants can connect and build relationships; and organisers and sponsors need to recognise how walking not only consolidates knowledge but can help create knowledge too.Originality/valueThis is a unique, seven-year longitudinal study that broadens the theoretical focus of walking as a mechanism for management and leadership development that combines the theoretical lenses of being-in-the-world, belonging and “Ba”, the authors believe, for the first time in research on management development.

Good intentions gone awry: investigating a strategically oriented MLD program

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-354
Author(s):  
Magnus Larsson ◽  
Melissa Carsten ◽  
Morten Knudsen
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Social Identification ◽  
Strategic Action ◽  
Complex Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Organizational Attitudes

PurposeComplex organizations increasingly rely on middle managers as strategic linking-pins between the top and bottom levels of the organization. Using social identity theory and commitment theory as the foundation, this study evaluates a management and leadership development program (MLDP) intended to engage middle managers as strategy creators and implementers. We also evaluate the cascading effects of leadership development by assessing changes in subordinates' identification with the leader, and commitment to the work unit and organization.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 107 manager participants and 913 of their subordinates, this study measures differences in both manager and subordinate identification and commitment prior to and after the completion of a 6 months strategically oriented MLDP.FindingsDespite the organizations' best intentions, manager identification with and commitment to the organization decreased after completion of the MLDP. Similarly, subordinates identification with the leader and commitment to the organization also decreased at Time 2.Research limitations/implicationsThe results paint a complex picture of the nuances of social identification as an outcome of MLDPs, and problematize the notion of cascading effects on subordinates within the organization. Researchers are encouraged to further examine organizational attitudes and perceptions as outcomes of MLDPs.Practical implicationsSuggestions are offered regarding how practitioners can manage strategically oriented MLDPs in order to avoid identity confusion and promote strategic action.Originality/valueStrategically oriented MLDPs are increasingly popular in organizations. This study is one of the first to evaluate the theoretical mechanisms through which these programs may affect managers and problematize these effects for complex organizations.

The role of curiosity in workplace automation

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 29-32
Author(s):  
Alison Horstmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Skill Gaps ◽  
Development Professionals ◽  
Learning Professionals

Purpose This paper describes the ways automation and artificial intelligence are shifting the business landscape and how learning professionals can use curiosity to enhance their own and their organizations' success. Design/methodology/approach A review of theory and research on automation and artificial intelligence, curiosity, and learning and development challenges was conducted. Findings Although technological advancements are already transforming the workplace, the optimal benefits of these technologies will be realized only in collaboration with human capital. In particular, as certain manual and technical skills are replaced by automation, the jobs that remain will require more highly developed social and cognitive skills such as creative problem solving, interpersonal skills and empathy, and adaptability and continuous learning. Practical implications Learning professionals are encouraged to use strategies that leverage the power of curiosity to cultivate the soft skills critical for success in technologically advanced workplaces. Originality/value Technological advancement creates an ever-changing organizational and learning landscape for employees and development professionals. Cost-effective strategies are needed to close the growing skill gaps that result. Curiosity is a helpful tool for growing needed competencies.

scholarly journals Academic leadership development programs: a model for sustained institutional change

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1008-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt ◽  
Ina Louw
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Institutional Change ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiplier Effect

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a leadership development program (LDP) for senior academic staff on “qualitative research” after two years to establish the success, limitations and overall impact of the program in terms of personal, professional and organizational benefits. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the background, outline of the LDP and evaluation of results through participant feedback: at the end of the program; and after two years, using a “participatory action learning and action research” (PALAR) approach. Findings – All participants were very positive about the design, conduct and learning outcomes of the program in terms of their own and their students’ learning during and after the program. But although the workshop had prepared them, some had not cascaded their learning and skills by conducting similar programs in their department, faculty or university wide, which was one of the main original objectives to achieve a multiplier effect across the institution. The authors discuss various reasons for this shortcoming and develop a process model for positive institutional change management in higher education. Research limitations/implications – Medium- and long-term effects of an LDP need to be followed up after a timespan of one to three or five years to establish whether the development has been effective and sustainable and to learn from limitations and shortcomings for future R&D activities. Practical implications – The authors identify the limitations and suggest practical institutional changes that encourage cascading of learning in theory and practice with a multiplier effect. Social implications – The paper aims to assist higher education institutions to ensure sustainability in their LDPs. Originality/value – The process model for leadership development in higher education can be adopted, adapted or further developed by other scholars interested in designing, conducting and evaluating a sustainable LDP in their field and organization.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document