Leadership
A Critical Text
- Simon Western - Analytic-Network Coaching Ltd
In this original text, Simon Western deconstructs and reconstructs leadership to challenge the popular notion of the individual or hero leader, instead using his own framework to present leadership as a distributed process.
New to the third edition:
- A new chapter on leadership symptoms that offers a novel approach to researching and conceptualizing leadership.
- An expanded chapter on “Leadership and Diversity” with Pooja Sachdev.
- Updated material on “The Eco-Leadership Discourse”, with the chapter now differentiating between ethical eco-leadership and commercial eco-leaders (e.g Facebook, Google, Amazon).
- Analysis of contemporary leadership trends, including leadership in the gig economy, algorithmic management, and the rise in messiah and authoritarian leadership in populist parties.
- Updated case studies with references to current politicians and organizations.
"Everyone has opinions about leadership, but few people have thought about it as deeply as Simon Western. In this important text, he shows us why we should be suspicious of easy answers and noisy leaders. This is a beautifully written and thought provoking book for anyone who wants to move beyond glib recipes and really think hard about our collective futures."
This is the third edition of an already internationally acclaimed text. In comparison to previous editions, this third iteration offers shorter chapters and a more transparently presented argumentation.
The tag attached to ‘Leadership’ in the book’s title – ‘A Critical Text’ – is fully justified, given that the premises of argument proposed, challenged and justified through this book remain strongly influenced by reference to European enlightenment (dialectics) and to discourses honed by members of the so-called Frankfurt School and which shaped current interpretations and applications of Critical Theory.
"Destined to become a classic, this book is one of the most comprehensive and insightful critical perspectives on leadership that has emerged in the past two decades. Now in its third edition, Leadership: A Critical Text is richly theorized, historically and ecologically grounded, and immensely practical. It is quite simply one of the very best single-volume works on leadership available."
Good overview on leadership theories and models from a critical perspective
This is an excellent book for exercising critical reasoning towards leadership. Part One offers plenty of food for thought for the purpose of unpacking traditional views on the theme. Part Two provides building blocks for developing alternative views. The book complements and extends significantly other publications informed by a critical perspective on leadership. It is especially suited to the needs of postgraduate students who are already familiar with the mainstream views and want to move to a higher level of analysis.
This is an excellent book for exercising critical reasoning towards leadership. Part One offers plenty of food for thought for the purpose of unpacking traditional views on the theme. Part Two provides building blocks for developing alternative views. The book complements and extends significantly other publications informed by a critical perspective on leadership. It is especially suited to the needs of postgraduate students who are already familiar with the mainstream views and want to move to a higher level of analysis.
An excellent update on what is a key critical text. The new chapter is a novel addition. I urge my level 6 students who are wanting to stretch themselves and to be critical, to use this text.
Interesting book that introduces new concepts and ways of thinking about leadership from the mainstream texts on this course,
Easy to link to the course content
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 13: An Overview of the Leadership Discourses
Sample Chapter 12 of Western, Leadership
