We the Leaders: In Order to Form a Leaderful Organization

Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 18-31, Fall 2005

29 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2008 Last revised: 5 Dec 2012

See all articles by Joseph A. Raelin

Joseph A. Raelin

Northeastern University - D’Amore-McKim School of Business; Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT); Lancaster University - Department of Management Learning

Date Written: December 6, 2008

Abstract

This article endeavors to develop an emerging paradigm of leadership for our organizations known as "leaderful practice." Leaderful practice constitutes a direct challenge to the conventional view of leadership as "being out in front." It is submitted that in the 21st Century organization, everyone will need to share the experience of serving as a leader, not sequentially, but concurrently and collectively. In other words, leaders co-exist at the same time and all together. In addition, each member of an organization will be encouraged to make a unique contribution to its growth, both independently and interdependently with others. In this sense, organizational members will aspire to become fervently collaborative, which in turn is derived from their compassion toward other human beings. Their well-developed sense of self permits them to develop a deep consideration of others. Thus, the article makes the case that the only possible way to lead ourselves out of trouble in management is to become mutual and to share leadership.

Keywords: Leadership, leadership development, collaboration, shared leadership, self-managing teams, employee involvement, empowerment, stewardship

JEL Classification: M12

Suggested Citation

Raelin, Joseph A., We the Leaders: In Order to Form a Leaderful Organization (December 6, 2008). Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 18-31, Fall 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1312315

Joseph A. Raelin (Contact Author)

Northeastern University - D’Amore-McKim School of Business ( email )

360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.leaderfulconsultancy.com

Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) ( email )

Lappeenranta
Finland

Lancaster University - Department of Management Learning ( email )

Lancaster, LA1 4YW
United Kingdom

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