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Debunking the false dichotomy of leadership idealism and pragmatism: Critical evaluation and support of newer genre leadership theories
Author(s) -
Hannah Sean T.,
Sumanth John J.,
Lester Paul,
Cavarretta Fabrice
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of organizational behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.938
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1099-1379
pISSN - 0894-3796
DOI - 10.1002/job.1931
Subject(s) - performative utterance , transformational leadership , pragmatism , epistemology , idealism , morality , sociology , transparency (behavior) , focus (optics) , psychology , transactional leadership , social psychology , philosophy , political science , law , physics , optics
Summary Leadership theories have shifted over the last few decades from a focus on managerial functions and economic leader–follower exchanges toward greater focus on the interpersonal dynamics occurring within the leadership process. Theories such as transformational, ethical, authentic, and other “newer genre” theories were created to address neglected topics such as leader vision and inspirational messages, transparency, emotional effects, morality, individualized attention, and intellectual stimulation. Critiques of these theories, however, have been raised. In this paper, we address five of those critiques and argue for the validity and practical effectiveness of the new genre theories. Further, we describe how newer genre leadership research should be viewed as a performative epistemology, entailing a process of co‐creation involving scholars and practitioners. Finally, from this view, we provide general ideas for leader development. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.