De Gruyter Handbook of Leadership Approaches

Leadership is a complex and continually evolving phenomenon, shaped by changing organisational, social, economic and global contexts. The De Gruyter Handbook of Leadership Approaches provides a comprehensive and critical examination of established, emerging and alternative perspectives on leadership. Bringing together contributions from leading scholars and researchers, the handbook explores the theoretical foundations, practical applications and contemporary relevance of a wide range of leadership approaches. It examines how leadership is understood, enacted and experienced across different contexts, while highlighting the opportunities and limitations associated with particular perspectives. The volume engages with influential approaches including transformational, authentic, ethical, entrepreneurial, shared, distributed, inclusive, adaptive and crisis leadership, alongside critical perspectives that consider power, identity, inequality and the darker dimensions of leadership. By bringing these diverse approaches into dialogue, the handbook encourages readers to consider both their distinct contributions and their areas of intersection. With its combination of conceptual insight, critical analysis and practical relevance, the De Gruyter Handbook of Leadership Approaches is an essential resource for academics, researchers, students and practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of leadership theory and practice. It offers a valuable foundation for examining how leadership can respond to contemporary challenges and contribute to more effective, responsible and sustainable organisations and societies.