Leadership is a critical element in any field. Countless amount of research has been poured into the study of leadership. Yet seemingly there is always room for more as social constructs change within our societies. While there are certain constants that have been proven within the leadership field, the uncertainties have been faced with creative leaders at the right place, right time.
Unknown to many as a style of leadership, the discursive leadership methodology seems to utilize the art of framing words and ideals through a common language set to build upon organizational values and standards. Further, it places more responsibility on subordinates to pave the way for the organization’s future; all the while, the leader of the organization is simply guiding their intent to meet their endstate but subordinates feel as if they were the ones to have created and made the change possible. However, as with any subject, discursive leadership methodologies need much more research to validate its potential as a
sustainable leadership approach.
Table of Contents
Discursive Leadership: A Sustainable Leadership Approach?
Literature Review and Definitions
Discussion
Future Research
Conclusion
References:
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the discursive leadership methodology as a communication-based approach that leverages the framing of language to influence organizational values and facilitate change. The central research question examines the potential of discursive leadership as a sustainable management style and how leaders can utilize social discourse to empower subordinates while maintaining strategic direction.
- Theoretical foundations of discursive leadership and communication
- The role of "framing" in managing organizational meaning
- Applications of discursive leadership in higher education and professional settings
- Strategies for building organizational resilience through social interaction
- The relationship between discursive influence and subordinate ownership of change
Excerpt from the Book
Literature Review and Definitions
Discursive leadership is a communication-based style of leadership that relies upon “framing” statements within an organization that affect current operations, future operations, and/or the pursuit of organizational change (Minei, Eatough, Cohen-Charash, 2018). Clifton (2012) describes it as a “language game” where the leader manages meanings. Novicevic (2017) defines it as “a social-influence dialogical process that is grounded in the leader-constituent member flow of meanings (in Greek, dia=flow and logos=meaning).” Torres & Fyke (2013) expand upon these definitions by defining this leadership style as a “process-focused” style that takes the emphasis away from the leader and distributes it among multiple, influential members of the organization. By doing so, the focus is shifted among the social, cultural, and organizational systems as they are defined by the members (Doss, Sumrall, McElreath, & Jones, 2013).
Framing, a critical component to discursive leadership, in turn is simply taking the situation at hand and shaping it through communication measures to include and exclude key points in order to create an opinion favorable to the individual “framing.” Fairhurst and Grant (2010) continue by emphasizing that framing when used correctly, can mitigate damage done to an organization and help recover organizations that have had significant past failures or mistakes. Further, framing should not be seen as a leader being insincere or inauthentic but rather rebuilding social realities or concepts of an organization going through a time of criticism or difficulty. Minei et al (2018) describe framing as selecting strategic statements within a culture specific to the organization and reproduce the same statements with a different point of view. Framing can also assist leaders in strategically motivating subordinates (Doss D. A., et al., 2016). Hidden messages in plain sight can assist leaders instilling values and morals within their employees with out demanding it from them.
Summary of Chapters
Discursive Leadership: A Sustainable Leadership Approach?: Introduces the concept of discursive leadership, outlining the inherent challenges in contemporary leadership studies and the growing need for context-sensitive communication styles.
Literature Review and Definitions: Provides academic definitions of discursive leadership, highlighting its focus on "framing" and the management of meaning within organizational cultures.
Discussion: Examines practical applications of the discursive approach, including a case study on university leadership and the use of discourse analysis to navigate complex change.
Future Research: Proposes longitudinal studies to monitor the efficacy of discursive strategies when implemented by new leaders over time.
Conclusion: Summarizes that discursive leadership is a highly adaptable, context-dependent methodology that empowers leaders to shape organizational identities effectively.
References:: Lists the academic sources used to support the research on discursive leadership and organizational communication.
Key Words
discursive leadership, framing, leadership, communication, social influence, organizational change, management, dialogue, organizational culture, professional development, resilience, strategy, leader-constituent relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research explores the discursive leadership style, an approach that relies on the strategic use of language and communication to build organizational values and standards.
What are the central themes of the work?
Central themes include the concept of framing, the social construction of meaning, the delegation of responsibility through communication, and the importance of social context in leadership.
What is the primary objective of this paper?
The primary objective is to evaluate discursive leadership as a sustainable leadership approach and to understand how it allows leaders to guide organizational change while subordinates maintain a sense of ownership.
Which scientific methods are discussed?
The paper discusses several analytical approaches including conversation analysis, interaction analysis, speech art schematics, discursive psychology, and narrative analysis.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the definition of discursive leadership, the mechanism of framing, practical applications in fields like education, and its role in building organizational resilience.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is defined by terms such as discursive leadership, framing, communication, and organizational change.
How does a discursive leader differ from a traditional leader?
A discursive leader shifts the focus away from authoritative command, instead managing the "language game" and social reality to allow subordinates to feel as if they are the primary drivers of positive organizational change.
What example does the paper provide for discursive leadership?
The paper provides a case study of Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Vitter at the University of Mississippi, demonstrating how he used framing to navigate sensitive cultural and administrative decisions.
How does framing mitigate organizational damage?
According to the text, when used correctly, framing helps mitigate damage by selecting strategic statements that provide a new, more constructive point of view, helping an organization recover from past failures.
What future studies does the author recommend?
The author recommends long-term studies that monitor an organization over several years following the appointment of a leader who employs discursive strategies to measure actual subordinate buy-in and sustained efficacy.
- Citar trabajo
- Chad Prosser (Autor), 2019, Discursive Leadership. A Sustainable Leadership Approach?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/458907
