The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

From simplicism to complexity in leadership identity and preparation: exploring the lineage and dark secrets

From simplicism to complexity in leadership identity and preparation: exploring the lineage and dark secrets
From simplicism to complexity in leadership identity and preparation: exploring the lineage and dark secrets
This paper challenges the largely Western, functionalist and unitary notion of the self which underlies contemporary international approaches to educational leadership preparation. It locates an alternative concept of the self as simultaneously singular and multiple in deep-rooted and persisting mythic, religious and metaphysical thinking. The paper suggests that identity is self- and co-constructed to achieve a sense of coherence, worth and belonging, primarily through ongoing narratives and relationships. As a consequence, a leader must construct an identity performance to take up the role of leader, develop narratives and adapt identities to the ongoing surveillance of an accountability audience. The paper suggests that preparation, in focusing on the acquisition of technical craft skills related to administration and socialisation into a generally uncontested set of values and norms, evades and miniaturises the performance of leadership. The preparation of leaders for complex, uncertain and ambiguous roles may be supported by focusing on the mythic narratives of self and context, thereby examining how the many, fluid and constantly mutating intersections of conscious and subconscious selves may be utilised to enact a self-aware leadership.
leadership, identity, myths, drama
1360-3124
95-114
Lumby, Jacky
English, Fenwick
56b8f315-d70e-49d3-be71-e7039515812f
Lumby, Jacky
English, Fenwick
56b8f315-d70e-49d3-be71-e7039515812f

Lumby, Jacky and English, Fenwick (2008) From simplicism to complexity in leadership identity and preparation: exploring the lineage and dark secrets. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 12 (2), 95-114. (doi:10.1080/13603120802449678).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper challenges the largely Western, functionalist and unitary notion of the self which underlies contemporary international approaches to educational leadership preparation. It locates an alternative concept of the self as simultaneously singular and multiple in deep-rooted and persisting mythic, religious and metaphysical thinking. The paper suggests that identity is self- and co-constructed to achieve a sense of coherence, worth and belonging, primarily through ongoing narratives and relationships. As a consequence, a leader must construct an identity performance to take up the role of leader, develop narratives and adapt identities to the ongoing surveillance of an accountability audience. The paper suggests that preparation, in focusing on the acquisition of technical craft skills related to administration and socialisation into a generally uncontested set of values and norms, evades and miniaturises the performance of leadership. The preparation of leaders for complex, uncertain and ambiguous roles may be supported by focusing on the mythic narratives of self and context, thereby examining how the many, fluid and constantly mutating intersections of conscious and subconscious selves may be utilised to enact a self-aware leadership.

Text
From_Simplicism_to_Complexity_IJEL_sumbmisaion_9.3.08.doc - Author's Original
Download (122kB)

More information

Published date: April 2008
Keywords: leadership, identity, myths, drama

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 65711
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/65711
ISSN: 1360-3124
PURE UUID: c694c01f-c574-400b-8bdf-7bfdd78bc2d3

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Mar 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 17:49

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Jacky Lumby
Author: Fenwick English

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×