Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

No more heroes : critical perspectives on leadership romanticism

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Grint, Keith, Collinson, David and Smolovic-Jones, Owain (2018) No more heroes : critical perspectives on leadership romanticism. Organization Studies, 39 (11). pp. 1625-1647. doi:10.1177/0170840617727784 ISSN 0170-8406.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-no-more-heroes-critical-leadership-romanticism-Grint-2017.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (749Kb) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840617727784

Request Changes to record.

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 characterised by romanticising tendencies in many of its most influential theories, illustrating this argument with reference to spiritual and authentic leadership theories, which only recognise 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 Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Industrial Relations & Organisational Behaviour
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Leadership -- History -- 20th century, Romanticism
Journal or Publication Title: Organization Studies
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN: 0170-8406
Official Date: 1 November 2018
Dates:
DateEvent
1 November 2018Published
23 October 2017Available
25 September 2017Accepted
Volume: 39
Number: 11
Page Range: pp. 1625-1647
DOI: 10.1177/0170840617727784
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit: 25 September 2017
Date of first compliant Open Access: 25 September 2017

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us