Rethinking Leadership

A New Look at Old Leadership Questions

New Horizons in Leadership Studies series

Donna Ladkin, Professor of Inclusive Leadership, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK

A must-read for serious leadership studies scholars, Rethinking Leadership offers a radical reconceptualisation of leadership as a contextually embedded, physically embodied phenomenon. The book arrives at original and surprising answers to perennial questions such as ‘What is leadership?’ and ‘How do leaders lead change?’, by addressing them from a philosophical, rather than psychological or sociological standpoint.

‘Books about leadership abound, often generalizing from a heroic leader’s own experiences or reflecting the latest incremental advances in scholarly theorizing. Rethinking Leadership is different in that Ladkin questions the key questions of leadership thinking and thus arrives at a radically different conception of leadership. It is a welcome conception that recognizes the embodied, sensual, felt nature of leadership as an ongoing process involving leaders and followers within a particular context. For the complex and challenging times we live in, we need complex and challenging conceptions of leadership and Donna Ladkin has given us an excellent starting place.’
– Steve Taylor, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, US

‘Beautifully written, insightful and novel, this book departs nicely from mainstream views on leadership and can be strongly recommended to anyone wanting a new look on the complexities, meanings and dynamics of leadership and workplace relations.’
– Mats Alvesson, Lund University, Sweden

‘Donna Ladkin’s inspiring and informed book breaks new ground in leadership studies. Writing lucidly, warmly and accessibly, Ladkin makes philosophy to bear on some key themes of leadership. Picking up concepts from philosophy’s all time greats, she enriches the existing leadership discourse powerfully. Questions of “charisma”, “vision”, indeed the nature of leadership itself, are cast in fresh settings, and they become alive. Skilfully avoiding becoming overtly abstract, with a keen eye to examples, Donna Ladkin delivers a delightful, elevating and original contribution to the rethinking of leadership.’
– Esa Saarinen, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

‘Adopting a post-positivist phenomenological perspective inspired by the writings of Husserl and Heidegger among others, Donna Ladkin crafts a series of philosophical questions that prompt the reader to deconstruct and reposition many habitually held views of leaders and leadership. Through her deep questioning, Ladkin reminds us that wisdom – the virtue of practical circumspection – is central to the ethical and aesthetic moment of leading. Rethinking Leadership is a refreshing and much-needed re-evaluation of the field, which should be read by anyone with a serious interest in the subject.’
– Peter Case, University of the West of England, UK

‘Writing anything new about leadership might seem like a difficult task these days. Writing anything new and interesting about leadership might seem beyond most of us. Writing anything new, interesting and provocative about leadership is restricted to only a few very talented scholars. Ladkin is one of these very talented scholars – she has done all three in a groundbreaking review of the nature of leadership and the questions we should be asking about this phenomenon.’
– Keith Grint, University of Warwick, UK