Collinson, David; Smolović Jones, Owain and Grint, Keith
(2018).
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| DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link: | https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840617727784 |
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| Google Scholar: | Look up in Google Scholar |
Abstract
This paper revisits Meindl et al’s (1985) ‘romance of leadership’ thesis and extends these ideas in a number of inter-related ways. First, it argues that the thesis has sometimes been neglected and/or misinterpreted in subsequent studies. Second, the paper suggests that romanticism is a much broader and more historically rich term with wider implications for leadership studies than originally proposed. Arguing that romanticism stretches beyond leader attribution, we connect leadership theory to a more enduring and naturalistic tradition of romantic thought that has survived and evolved since the mid-18th century. Third, the paper demonstrates the contemporary relevance of the romanticism critique. It reveals how the study of leadership continues to be characterized by romanticizing tendencies in many of its most influential theories, illustrating this argument with reference to spiritual and authentic leadership theories, which only recognize positive engagement with leaders. Equally, the paper suggests that romanticism can shape conceptions not only of leaders, but also of followers, their agency and their (potential for) resistance. We conclude by discussing future possible research directions for the romanticism critique that extend well beyond its original focus on leader attribution to inform a broader critical approach to leadership studies.
| Item Type: | Journal Item |
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| Copyright Holders: | 2017 The Authors |
| ISSN: | 1741-3044 |
| Keywords: | critical leadership studies; expressive collectives; leader attribution; leadership romanticism; natural leaders; romanticizing followership |
| Academic Unit/School: | Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) > Business > Department for People and Organisations Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) > Business Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) |
| Item ID: | 51738 |
| Depositing User: | Owain Smolovic Jones |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Oct 2017 13:56 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jul 2020 19:38 |
| URI: | http://oro.open.ac.uk/id/eprint/51738 |
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