The New Psychology of Leadership

by S. Alexander Haslam, Stephen D. Reicher, Michael J. Platow

Examines a range of theoretical and practical issues that are central to the leadership process, including the nature of group identity, the basis of authority and legitimacy, the dynamics of justice and fairness, the determinants of followership and charisma, and the practice and politics of leadership.

Genres: Leadership, Psychology, Business, Nonfiction, Management, Education

388 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

S. Alexander Haslam (Alex Haslam) is a Professor of Social Psychology in the School of Psychology at the University of Exeter.

His research is in the area of social and organisational psychology, exporing issues of stereotyping and prejudice, tyranny and resistance, leadership and power, stress and well-being. This work is informed by, and has contributed to the development of, theory and ideas in the social identity tradition.

In 2001 Haslam collaborated with Professor Steve Reicher of the University of St Andrews on the BBC television programme The Experiment, which examined conflict, order, rebellion and tyranny in the behaviour of a group of individuals held in a simulated prison environment. The Experiment (which became known as the BBC Prison Study) re-examined issues raised by the Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) and attempted to combine compelling broadcasting with leading-edge social science research. The results of the study were subsequently published in a number of leading psychology journals. Amongst other things, these challenged the role account of tyranny associated with the SPE as well as broader ideas surrounding the 'banality of evil'.

Working with Dr Michelle Ryan, Haslam is also known for research into the glass cliff, examining the leadership experiences of women in organizations. This work was short-listed for the Times Higher Education Supplement's 'Research Project of the Year' in 2005.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Iain Snelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't normally include a 'work' book in here but this is an excellent and accessible read that really challenges more popular normative accounts of leadership based on compassion, authentic, or other values. This book shows why the importance of being 'one of us' is influential, which requires 'others', and although many of the examples are from national figures, the implications for leaders in organisations that consist of several groups that work together (for example healthcare where there are doctors, a range of other healthcare professionals, social workers, managers etc) are significant. Being aware of the importance of social identity will help leaders understand how they can use the idea positively by crafting new identities within organisations, rather than be trapped by old ones. The implications for promoting diversity and equality are profound. The second edition includes additional materials on leadership development programmes, and a validated measure of identity leadership which will help to develop quantitative research. I'd recommend this book strongly for anyone interested in leadership and politics.

[Piritta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luin kurssikirjana. Helppolukuinen, mutta ehkä hieman liian lavea, kun kolmeensataan sivuun oli mahdutettu antiikin Kreikasta Hitlerin kautta kehen tahansa Yhdysvaltain presidenttiin. Odotin organisaatiollisempaa näkökulmaa.

[Laura Walin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haslam and colleagues have written a book about leadership based on social psychology, specifically on social identity theory. They start by challenging the former approach to consider leadership as something that certain personalities just have and something that just these specific individuals can thus exercise. In contrast, the authors say, leadership is always a multiway relationship between the people and highly dependent on context.

Building on this, they state that leadership should be seen as something based on social identity and self-categorization, and a leader can claim their place in the group by making themselves one of the group, showing to colleagues that they work for the group and shape the group's future and, finally, by making the group matter in a larger context. They conclude the book by giving practical tools to the future leaders and ideas on how to grow into effective leadership.

The book is clearly and convincingly written and thus its line of argument is easy to follow. The authors draw a lot from both research on social psychology and real life leadership examples, and justify when it is appropriate to use each in support of their thoughts. The book gave a lot of food for thought and ideas on what to apply in real life, and I do recommend it to anybody who seeks a leadership position of effect within their group.

[Vu Chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for everyone

Well-written, lucid, and backed by studies and examples, this is a genuine gem among leadership literatures. I felt awakened and see things differently with much more hope for the future. This should be required reading for all who aspired to make a difference in the world.

[Wei Jie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on leadership I have read so far.

Rather than focusing on the traits of what makes a good leader which typically most leadership books do, it highlights that good leadership is about the interaction and relationship between the leader, followers, and the group.

Why a leader could perform so well in one setting but poorly in another setting.

[Tuli · Rating 1 out of 5]

A leadership book only meant for the white, upper middle class man with interests in football and the military. Countless mentions of props to hegemonic masculinity such as 'steak' and 'beer' also showcased. Unsurprisingly, women have been included in this book only in literal parenthesis and its 'global' worldview is reduced to Western liberal individualism. No thank you.

[Forest Handford]

This is my all time favorite psychology book. The information here is all based on well documented and studied patterns of behavior. My biggest take-away from this was how critical it is to get people to consider more people part of their in-group.

[Alberto Tebaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good insight about the leaders' psychology. At times a bit repetitive, but an interesting read.

[Agilitycape]

You will learn more about leadership by reading the weltanschauung section in Rainer Zitelmann's "Hitler the policies of seduction" ..

[Terhi Lehtola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of identity leadership well explained and justified by scientific research results. Sometimes too much information on research details for an average reader. Nevertheless, the core idea is essential for successful leadership. A prototypic team member as a leader is much more effective in shaping the identity and goals of a team than someone who tries to direct people from above.

[Alli Kolho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luin kurssikirjana. Melko helppolukuinen katsaus siihen, miten johtajuutta voi tarkastella sosiaalipsykologian ja erityisesti ryhmäidentiteetin näkökulmasta, missä johtajuus ei ole pelkästään yksilön ominaisuus vaan sisäryhmän ja johtajan välisestä vuorovaikutuksesta syntyvä kontekstisidonnainen prosessi.

Kirja käytti paljon historiallisia esimerkkejä ja harmillisesti (jälleen kerran) painotus oli valkoihoisissa historian suurmiehissä, vaikka muitakin vaikuttavia johtajia sivuttiin. Välillä lukujen esimerkit myös polveilivat aika kauas itse asiasta, joka yleensä pystyttiin kiteyttämään muutamaan virkkeeseen. Joka tapauksessa kirja auttoi ymmärtämään, miksi tietynlainen johtaminen epäonnistuu sekä tarjosi epäsuorasti keinoja tarkastella ja kehittää omaa johtajuuttaan.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second read through of this fine book reveals even more insight into the nature of leadership, and perhaps more importantly - followership. The authors, all renowned scholars in the field of leadership studies, provide insight concerning social identity theory, especially how followers and leaders must cohere for "leadership" to occur. Specifically, the discuss the role of identity construction and its role in group success. They also lie bare the pitfalls of leadership - namely that it is a trait one is born with, not a connection with a group, relying on a series of studies carried out by themselves and others around the world as well as illuminating case histories.

[George Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn't what I expected at all. I imagined a book that was dry and rather tedious, and really nothing 'new' at all. But I was blown away by the ideas this book contained and also by how accessible and how much sense they made. This was a book that really made me think.

[Christina]

still reading this a lot of self insight

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half is first rate and empirically based, while the second half loses steam.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably a good leadership textbook or psychological aspects of leadership, but most of it went over my head until we had a further discussion in class.