1st Edition
Charismatic Leadership in Organizations A Critique of Texts
History is full of examples of how the skilful use of language is a fundamental aspect of charismatic leadership. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been studied focusing on oratory skills. This book proposes the multi-faceted construct of textual charisma which entails notions of persuasion as captured in the ancient construct of pistis, i.e. ethos and pathos. Given that scholarly writing about leadership, management and organizations is inevitably a mix of the presentation of empirical truths and value judgements, the ability to engage the reader intellectually and emotionally is necessary for the successful dissemination of disciplinary knowledge and belief claims. This book encapsulates this ability in the notion of charisma. Specifically, it presents and empirically defends a two-dimensional analytic framework conceived of charismatic textual tactics. The framework puts flesh on the bones of the construct and provides guidance for leadership, management and organization studies’ authors seeking to present themselves as convincing and engaging writers and will be of value to researchers, academics, and students in the fields of management, organizations, and leadership studies.
1. Leadership and language
2. Scholarly writing on management and organizations
3. The quest for charisma in scholarly writing about management and organizations
4. A blueprint for charismatic writing in management and organizations
5. Study: Reader perception of textual charisma
Biography
Iga Maria Lehman is head of the Department of English Studies and the Department of Intercultural Communication at the University of Social Sciences in Warsaw. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the multidisciplinary journal Discourses on Culture. In her research, she adopts a critical, language-centered approach to analyze issues related to discursive leadership, sociocultural and linguistic marginalization, diversity of discourse communities, dialogical communication and uniqueness in scholarly writing. In recent years, she has been developing the concepts of ‘reflexivity’, ‘reader inclusion’ and ‘textual charisma’ in the process of scholarly text construction. She has published a book and articles and chapters in journals and books from the fields of applied linguistics, management communication and organization studies.
“In this insightful and original book, Iga Lehman invites us to rethink how we as academics use language and write. She offers a powerful argument for engaging, and at times disruptive, charismatic writing that prompts a reaction in readers. Trained as an applied linguist but crossing boundaries in her research, Lehman gives us a treasure trove of ideas, written in a personal and thought-provoking way.” Janne Tienari, Professor of Management and Organization, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
“Charismatic Leadership in Organizations: A Critique of Texts is a riveting journey through the landscape of academic writing, unraveling how charisma can be woven into the fabric of scholarly work on management and organizations. With an innovative in content and methodological approach, the book delves into the intertwining of leadership and language, offering a fresh lens to view discourse communities and the power of charismatic writing in academia. It compellingly argues for a transformative style that bridges the gap between traditional scholarly writing and the engaging prose that captivates and persuades, fostering a deeper connection with the reader. The author's mastery in blending rigorous academic analysis with captivating narrative techniques not only challenges but also reinvents the norms of academic writing, positioning charisma as a pivotal element in scholarly discourse.” Łukasz Sułkowski, Professor of Economics and Humanities, Jagiellonian University, WSB University, Poland
"Every now and then a book comes along that manages to say something novel and challenging about a topic you thought you were all too familiar with. This great book does exactly that: it provides an overview of the topic for new readers, a critical account of the topic for old(er) readers, and a map for those trying to enhance their organizational leadership." Keith Grint, Emeritus Professor, Warwick Business School
"A timely and much needed book for all those interested in leadership as a form of social communication. In our era of hyper-connectivity and disruption, it is important to understand the linguistic underpinnings of persuasion and charisma, both in order to be able to be more convincing and to see through the slick surfaces of allure that all too often is but a manipulative façade. The book proposes ways of sensitive and reflexive writing about management and organizing in order to focus on meaning and to open the path towards an integrative, relational approach." Monika Kostera, Professor Ordinaria in Economics and the Humanities, Faculty of Sociology, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Södertörn University, Sweden
