Metaphors We Lead By: Understanding Leadership in the Real World PDF
Preview Metaphors We Lead By: Understanding Leadership in the Real World
y ‘. ' ; f i :1 ' 1 » - 7 1 ' 4 ' , A ‘2 “ ' p 3 d i 'q ‘ : u - a , ' u I M 7 1 ‘” I ” We live in a leadership—obsessed society. The result is that we assume nearly any social or economic ill can be mended through better leadership. Sometimes, this commitment to leadership is followed by hero worshipping, wishful thinking and misplaced hope. Seeking to understand the faith we place in leadership. the authors draw on a number of in-depth studies of managers trying to "do" leadership. It presents six metaphors for the leader: as gardener, buddy. saint. cyborg, commander and bully. Some of these offer unexpected insights into how leadership does and does not work. The book sheds light on a varied — often contradictory and sometimes darker - side of leadership. Cutting through the management speak—drenched current literature on leadership. METAPHORS WE LEAD BY presents an enlightening and refreshing understanding of an important topic. It will be useful reading for students and researchers, as well as the thinking manager. Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administration at the Lund University. Sweden. He is also affiliated with University of Queensland Business School. Another of his recent books, CHANGING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. is also available from Routledge. André Spicer is an Associate Professor of Organisation Studies at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK. He is also a visiting research fellow at Lund University. Sweden. His recent publications [as cor-author] include UNMAE’KWG THE ENTREPRENEUR and UNDERSTANDING CORPORATE LIFE. g Roufledge ISBN 978-0-415-5 6845-6 Taylor & Francis Group 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdnn, Oxon, 0X14 4RN 0415 568456N 711 Third Avenue, New York, N? mm 7 wwwoudedgesom n w METAPHORS WE LEAD BY I; We live in a leadership-obsessed society. The result is that we assume nearly any social or economic ill can be mended through better leadership. Sometimes, this commitment to leadership is followed by hero worshipping, wishful thinking and misplaced hope. Seeking to understand the faith we place in leadership, the authors draw on a number of in-depth studies of managers trying to ”do” leadership. It presents six metaphors for the leader: as gardener, buddy, saint, cyborg, commander and bully. Some of these offer unexpected insights into how leadership does and does not work. The book sheds light on a varied — often contradictory and sometimes darker — side of leadership. Cutting through the management speak—drenched current literature on leadership, Metaphors We Lead By presents an enlightening and refreshing understanding of an important topic. It will be useful reading for students and researchers, as well as the thinking manager. Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administrationat Lund University, Sweden. He is also affiliated with University of Queensland Business School. Another of his recent books,C hanging Organizational Culture, is also available from Routledge. André Spicer is an Associate Professor of Organisation Studies at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK. He is also a visiting research fellow at Lund University, Sweden. His recent publications (as co-author) include Unmasking the Entrepreneur and Understanding Corporate Life. METAPHORS WE LEAD BY Understanding leadership in the real world Edited by Mats Alvesson and André Spicer E Roufledge Taylor & Francis Group LONDON AND NEW YORK First published 2011 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park,A bingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York,N Y 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor 6’ Francis Group, an informa business © 2011 Mats Alvesson 8r André Spicer for selection and editorial matter; individual contributors their contribution Typeset in Aldus and Gill Sans by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in wjriting from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Understanding leadership in the real world: metaphors we lead by/e dited by Mats Alvesson 8r André Spicer. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Leadership. 2. Metaphor. I. Alvesson, Mats, 1956—. II. Spicer, André. HM1261.U53 2011 303.3'4—dc22 2010018266 ISBN:9 78-0-415-56844-9 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-415-56845-6 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-203-84012-2 (ebk) ...S3QNTE.NTS Acknowledgements Vii List of contributors viii Introduction Mats Alvesson and André Spicer Theories of leadership Mats Alvesson and André Spicer Metaphors for leadership 31 André Spicer and Mats Alvesson Leaders as saints: leadership through moral peak performance 51 Mats Alvesson Leaders as gardeners: leadership through facilitating growth 76 Tony Huzzard and Sverre Spoelstra Leaders as buddies: leadership through making people feel good 96 Stefan Sveningsson and Martin Blom Leaders as commanders: leadership through creating clear direction 118 André Spicer Leaders as cyborgs: leadership through mechanistic superiority 138 Sara Louise Muhr vi Contents 9 Leaders as bullies: leadership through intimidation 162 Dan Kéirreman 10 Communicating leadership metaphors 180 Gail Fairhurst 11 Conclusion 194 André Spicer and Mats Alvesson References 206 Index 219 AC.K NQWLEDG EME NTS We are grateful to our colleagues Johan Alvehus, Magnus Larsson, Susanne Lundholm and Robert Wenglén for contributing with empirical work in the various research projects that this book draws upon. The research has been funded by Handelsbankens Research Foundation and Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (PAS). MA8tAS
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