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Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Harmful Leadership with a Moral Façade
Author(s) -
Mohr James M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of leadership studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.219
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 1935-262X
pISSN - 1935-2611
DOI - 10.1002/jls.21276
Subject(s) - servant leadership , transformational leadership , leadership , leadership style , transactional leadership , mainstream , shared leadership , narrative , white (mutation) , ethical leadership , leadership studies , charismatic authority , meaning (existential) , public relations , sociology , power (physics) , psychology , situational leadership theory , charisma , social psychology , political science , law , linguistics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist , gene
The current qualitative study used narrative inquiry to explore white supremacist leadership and how it aligns with and differs from transformational, servant, and charismatic leadership theories. By examining the concepts and examples of leadership within the white supremacist movement, an image of harmful leadership begins to develop. These leaders were found to use leadership strategies such as creating purpose, community building, follower focus and meaning making, empowerment and motivation, and trust and respect to gain followers. These strategies were combined with detrimental approaches to leadership that included pursuing and abusing power, developing a sense of self‐importance, using fear, and having a sense of isolation that contributed to a harmful leadership style. Harmful leadership and its implications for leaders and followers in more mainstream organizations are explored.