Leadership Research and Commentary - Annotated Bibliography Example

Leadership Research and Commentary Joiner Bill and Steve Josephs (2007). Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass. In this book the authors Joiner and Josephs have discussed various interesting concepts related to and directly affecting leadership within organizations. The discussions included therein offer the readers an opportunity to understand and implement various leadership styles in a way that is most suitable for their organizational environment. In order to lend credibility to the discussions a comprehensive literature based on a detailed developmental psychological perspective is included. Furthermore discussions based on previous researchers such as Bill Torbert (2005) along with other developmental theorists focusing on the impact of key differences in leadership and quality of thinking of organizational leaders on organizational performance are provided. The authors have provided an insightful information regarding various ways in which leaders can develop agility which may help them in adapting to the dynamic and ever-changing external environment. The discussions provide a strong incentive to the readers to achieve higher levels of efficiency as leaders through the five levels of mastery. 2. Scharmer, C. Otto (2007). Theory U: Leading from the future as it emerges. Cambridge: MA. Society for Organizational Learning This book includes a revolutionary concept with regard to leadership theory and practice. The author has discussed the U theory proposed by Scharmer and Senge, et al., in extensive detail. The various discussions and theories included in the book offer a wide perspective to the readers as well as organizational leaders regarding the manner in which they can develop critical skills to foresee and judge the requirements of the industry and customer’s tastes and preferences. The author has included in-depth interviews of over 150 leaders from across the globe which includes prominent entrepreneurs, educators, economists, cognitive scientists as well as other leaders from diverse fields who have displayed high levels of achievement and performance in their respective areas of expertise. The inclusion of such diverse perspectives helped in approaching the issue of leadership in a manner that allows for a holistic understanding of the concept. 3. Soft-leadership in Business Davis, I., (2006). Soft-leadership in Business. The McKinsey Quarterly, May 2006 In this article the author has addressed the changing role of management and hence leaders. In such a highly dynamic environment leading an organization towards success is a highly tedious task. It has been observed that at times the CEOs of companies may feel reluctant to actively participate in debates and issues critical to the organizations. In order help them to confidently confront critical issues and prevent their organizations from any damage, it is crucial for the leaders to develop and possess certain key characteristics which are in the best interest of their firms. Also external factors such as social, political, economical, or technological may have a significant impact on the firms’ functioning. Thus, it is highly recommended that the leaders are fully aware of the trade-offs involved and resolve them in a highly effective manner. In this article the authors have discussed various such factors in great detail, thus providing the readers an opportunity to understand and learn the intricate relationships between the behavior of leaders and its simultaneous impact on the firms’ performance. 4. Leadership and innovation Barsh, J., Marla, M., and Davidson, J., (2008). Leadership and innovation. The McKinsey Quarterly. January 2008. In this article the authors have highlighted the significance of innovation and its relationship with effective leadership. The external environment is highly dynamic and highly competitive. It is hence inevitable for firms to continuously strive to invent, develop and implement innovative practices to survive in the industry and retain their competitive positioning. Lack of innovative efforts on the part of organizations often leads to a shutdown and huge losses for the firms. Globalization has significantly widened the scope of businesses today. Geographical boundaries are blurred due to technological innovations, as well as progressive market policies adopted by governments across the globe. It is hence highly necessary for leaders to adopt fresh ideas and innovative business practices that help them address the challenges posed by the external environment. Furthermore the leaders are required to constantly motivate their employees to develop innovative ideas and steer the organizations towards their pre-defined goals. 5. Leadership in a Crisis – How To Be a Leader George, B., Leadership in Crisis - How to be a leader. The Wall Street Journal [Online] Available at: http://guides.wsj.com/management/developing-a-leadership-style/how-to-lead-in-a-crisis/?mod=WSJBlog [Accessed: October 9, 2012] In this article the author has discussed seven crucial lessons for leaders, based on experiences of achievements of leaders who were successful in leading their organizations towards success in critical situations, thus offering the readers an insight into the key strategies that can be adopted in such situations. The author has stressed the significance of acknowledging their weaknesses in order to address and effectively resolve organizational crises. It gives a brief overview of strategies that must be adopted by leaders to resolve issues and overcome setbacks faced by them in a professional manner. The article stresses the significance of acknowledging the crisis as a first step towards resolving it. The suggestions provided by the author provide the readers with a different perspective and help them realize the significance of resolving and overcoming seemingly difficult situations by adopting appropriate strategic tactics. 6. How Can Young Women Develop a Leadership Style? The Wall Street Journal [Online] Available at: http://guides.wsj.com/management/developing-a-leadership-style/how-can-young-women-develop-a-leadership-style/?mod=WSJBlog [Accessed: October 9, 2012] This article discusses the role of women as organizational leaders and the various ways in which they can successfully develop their own unique leadership styles. It highlights the gender divide that exists within the corporate world and the various unique challenges faced by women leaders. It includes opinions of industry experts regarding effectively approaching the issue and overcoming the obstacle thus providing an opportunity for the readers to understand the role of women leaders and the manner in which they can succeed by adopting and developing their unique leadership traits. The article further highlights the fact that some of the major obstacles faced by women leaders include the lack of adequate female role models and the inability of male employees / co-workers to overcome female stereotypes which indirectly tends to affect their leadership styles. The author has included various strategies which may help the female leaders to overcome such obstacles and encourage them to project a positive and assertive image as leaders. 7. Re-thinking ethical leadership: An interdisciplinary integrative approach Eisenbeiss, S. A., (2012). The Leadership Quarterly Volume 23, Issue 5, October 2012, Pp. 791–808 This article primarily aims to highlight the key issues confronted by managers in contemporary environment with regard to ethical leadership. It discusses the conceptual vagueness of the concept of ethicality in a business environment particularly with regard to the western corporate environment. The article also attempts to address issues related to the manner in which ethical business practices can be adopted and implemented by leaders through development of an interdisciplinary integrative approach to leadership and management. In order to broaden the understanding of the concept the authors have included a comprehensive discussion on the various similarities between the eastern and western concepts of business ethics against the backdrop of world religions. It also discusses the implications of the choices and decisions made by the leaders by way of real life case studies and in-depth interviews of global leaders. Such elaborate discussions from experiences of leaders across the globe, provide an interesting perspective on the issue. 8. When do leaders sacrifice?: The effects of sense of power and belongingness on leader self-sacrifice Niek Hoogervorsta, David De Cremera, Marius van Dijkea, David M. Mayerb. The Leadership Quarterly. Volume 23, Issue 5, October 2012, Pp. 883–896 Various research articles and literature in the past have highlighted the impact of behavior of leaders on the organizations as well as on their followers. This research highlights the implications and significance of leader-sacrifice and its relevance to the organizational development. The authors have stated that self-less acts or self-sacrifice by the leaders tends to influence positive response from the followers and help the leaders in presenting a favorable image in front of their subordinates. Such behavior tends to invoke a sense of belongingness in the group and binds the group members together thus ensuring greater support and co-operation. Such behavior on the part of the leaders helps in garnering greater support of their subordinates which in turn translates into greater power in the hands of the leaders. This power can then be used by the leaders to steer the organization towards the accomplishment of its goals and objectives and retain its competitive positioning in the industry. 9. Leaders relational self-concept and followers task performance: Implications for mentoring provided to followers Laurent M. Lapierre, Loren J. Naidoo, Silvia Bonaccio. The Leadership Quarterly Volume 23, Issue 5, October 2012, Pp. 766–774 In this article the authors have discussed the concept of relational self-concept of leaders and its impact on task performance. It includes a comprehensive study comprising of a sample of 137 leader-follower dyads. The analysis offer an interesting perspective on the manner in which the relational self-concept of the leaders influence the productivity of their followers. The article also includes discussion on the impact of self-concept on the mentoring abilities of leaders. The results revealed that the leaders with a stronger relational self-concept are relatively more successful in providing more support (career support) to their subordinates as compared to those who displayed a lower relational self-concept. However it was also observed that the provision of psychological support had little or no bearing on the leaders’ level of relational self-concept. Hence the study concluded that the concept of leader’s relational self-concept directly influences the performance of their subordinates and that those with a higher relational self-concept are able to provide better support and motivate their subordinate. 10. A Conversation Analytical Approach to Business Communication: The Case of Leadership. Journal of Business Communication July 1, 2006 43: Pp. 202-219 This article tackles a unique and rare concept of conversation analysis and its influence and role in fostering smoother and effective business communication. The authors have stated that this concept is rarely discussed by researchers, despite its significance in achieving organizational excellence. Social constructivist approach to leadership is one of the key means to decipher the critical role of leaders and the use of effective communication channels in achieving desired results from their subordinates and accomplishing organizational objectives. The authors have proposed that a greater understanding of the concept is likely to benefit both the leaders as well as the organization by helping the leaders in improving and enhancing their communication and interactive skills. The article further states that the effectiveness of a leader largely depends on their ability to communicate their goals and visions effectively to their subordinates. The article stresses on the fact that that communication is vital to organizational success of the leaders and for the organization. 11. The influence of leader core self-evaluation on follower reports of transformational leadership Jia Hu, Zhen Wang, Robert C. Liden, Jianmin Sun. The Leadership Quarterly Volume 23, Issue 5, October 2012, Pp. 860–868 In this article the authors investigated the relationship between the core evaluations of leaders with the impact on perception of their followers regarding transformational leadership. The study conducted by the authors comprised of a mixed sample of followers as well as leaders from three Chinese organizations. The analysis revealed that there is a positive relationship between core self-evaluation of the leaders and the perception of followers of transformational leadership. The discussions included in this article helps in broadening our current understanding of the concept of core self-evaluations as well as the transformational leadership. It helps the readers in understanding the various key factors which enhances the leadership attributes and help in achieving a positive result in terms of organizational performance as well as follower contribution and productivity. The perception of leaders among the subordinates plays a key role in achieving organizational success. This article helps in understanding the relationship between the two and acts as a guide for the leaders. 12. Leadership: Research findings, practice and skills Dubrin, A. J., (2012). Leadership: Research Findings, practice, and skills. Cengage Learning Publication This book attempts to discuss various concepts and principles of leadership and the manner in which leadership skills can be developed and enhanced through effective application of theory and real-world examples. The discussions included in this book are insightful and provide in-depth information regarding the practical and theoretical foundations of the concept of leadership. The authors have suggested that once a practical foundation is laid by the leaders, it is relatively easier for them to reinforce required skills and knowledge through skill-building activities. The key issues discussed in the book include the nature and significance of leadership, the various traits and characteristics of leaders, the qualities of a charismatic leader, the concept of transformational leadership etc among others. Furthermore the book also includes the critical and highly relevant issues of ethics and social responsibility of effective leaders. Also, the discussions on various tactics applied by leaders along with motivation and coaching skills help the leaders in understanding the significance and relevance of such factors in becoming an efficient leader. 13. Creative leadership: Skills that drive change Puccio, G. J., Murdock, M. C., Mance, M., (2010). Creative leadership: Skills that drive change. SAGE Publication. The concept of leadership has been extensively discussed by various researchers. Most of the articles and researches on leadership focus on the strategies for enhancing leadership skills. This book on creative leadership highlights the significance of successful leadership and the potential of a successful leader in steering the organization towards growth and development. The authors have stated that the concept of leadership heavily relies on the efforts and abilities of individuals to respond appropriately and proactively to external factors in a way that helps in driving change and sustaining the organizational competitive standing in the industry. The book discusses the various creative approaches to leadership and emphasizing the significance of using creativity as a tool to achieve organizational excellence. The authors have supported and endorsed the use of creativity as a means to solve organizational problems and the effectiveness of creative leadership in solving critical issues faced by the organization. 14. Leadership Burns, J. M., (2012). Leadership. Open Road Media Publications. This book by the Pulitzer Prize winning historian James MacGregor Burns discusses the impact and significance of transformational leadership and provides a historical account of the manner in which leaders, over the years, have used and misused their power. The detailed discussions regarding the qualities of various leaders in the United States as well as elsewhere provide a meaningful insight to the readers regarding the concept of transformative leadership. Also the detailed discussions regarding the structure of moral leadership deal with the moral and ethical values of the leaders and the various conflicts faced by them as a result. Furthermore the various anecdotes and historical analysis included in the book inform readers about the persuasive power of individuals and the manner in which it can be used within organizations to influence the followers and enhance worker productivity. The practical examples included in the book make for an interesting read and can be used as a guide to improve and polish leadership skills. 15. Leadership: A critical text Western, S., (2007). Leadership: A critical text. SAGE Publication In this book the author has presented a critical review of various debates related to leadership. It offers a practical perspective on the issue of leadership rather than a theoretical perspective. The issues discussed include practical examples from daily experiences in the workplace which offers a realistic view of the issues confronted by leaders in their day to day life. The author has discussed the issues confronted by leaders in great detail thus providing a comprehensive account of leadership initiatives and the resultant impact on the subordinates. The book includes examples which raise awareness regarding the gender differences, issues of power and responsibility and striking a balance between the two. It acts as a guide to the readers to understand the gender dynamics in the corporate world. It also gives a fresh perspective on the issue of morality and ethical values of leaders as well as the concept of spiritual leadership. 16. Resonant leadership: Renewing yourself and connecting with others through mindfulness, hope and compassion Boyatzis, R., McKee, A., (2005). Harvard Business Press. In this book the authors have introduced a novel concept of resonant leadership which deals with the manner in which individuals/ leaders manage / control their emotions to accomplish their organizational goals. Leaders are required to shoulder the responsibility of steering the organization towards success and motivate and encourage the followers to enhance their productivity. In order to successfully accomplish this goal it is imperative for the leaders to manage their emotions under stressful situations and overcome feelings of dissonance and burnout. Resonant leadership is hence extremely vital for organizational success. The examples and discussions included in this book afford a better understanding of the concept and the manner in which it influences efficient decision making on the part of the leaders. It also helps in understanding the significance of effective management of emotions to achieve the desired goals and to manage the teams effortlessly. 17. Creative leadership: Skills that drive change Puccio, G. J., Murdock, M. C., Mance, M., (2010). SAGE Publication Leaders in contemporary corporate environment are required to be highly creative in order to succeed and retain their competitive positioning in the industry. The influx of technological innovations and widening of market place has resulted in a fierce battle between firms to grab a wider market share. Attracting and retaining consumer base has become highly challenging task. In such circumstances it is inevitable for leaders to introduce creative ideas and strategies to secure their position in the industry. This book includes discussions on the manner in which leaders today can improve and sharpen their creative abilities and respond proactively to change, and in the process guide their followers towards success. The authors have emphasized the significance of creativity as an important characteristic trait for leaders and highlighted the use of creative problem solving ability of leaders in resolving organizational conflict. This book proves to be highly helpful for the readers in realizing the significance of creativity as an important leadership trait and the manner in which it can be developed and implemented. Read More