The Social Construction of Leadership, Implicit Leadership Theories, Leader Development, and the Challenge of Authenticity

Abstract

If people want to be thought as leaders by others, they must be observed acting in accordance with others' implicit leadership theories. Therefore, prospective leaders are advised to consider whether to change their behavior to influence others' leadership assessments of them. The decision whether or not to instrumentally change behavior to match others' expectations raises authenticity concerns. There is a need to explore the tensions in the relationship between the practical application of ideas emanating from the socially constructed approach to leadership and authenticity. There are four strategies prospective leaders can choose between to navigate their own approach between instrumentally and authenticity. Two of the strategies accept the idea prospective leaders might deliberately change their behaviors; the other two strategies reject the notion. Learning how to reveal other people's implicit leadership theories is an important skill for prospective leaders to acquire so they might make informed decisions about how to adapt their own behaviors. Prospective leaders might consider making conscious decisions about the values and norms they are prepared to accept and the ones they will confront.