Performing Leadership: Observations from the World of Music

Ralph Bathurst and Donna Ladkin
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Ralph Bathurst: School of Management, Massey University, Albany Campus, Private Bag 102904 North Shore, MSC, Auckland, New Zealand
Donna Ladkin: Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, BEDS MK43 0AL, UK

Administrative Sciences, 2012, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: This paper explores leadership as an emergent social process. We begin by discussing and contesting the tradition privileging linear management processes, and offer as a counterpoint accounts of distributed leadership out of which our focus on leadership as a plural process grows. Our concept of leadership as a plural process is enriched by an inquiry into musical ensembles with formal leaders as well as those which are leaderless that find ways of moving collectively towards shared goals. The specific issues that we explore are: personal preparation, expressing readiness to begin, establishing a way of operating, and dealing with unexpected problems as they arise. We conclude by speculating about how these elements could inform our understanding of how leadership arises from teams beyond the musical world.

Keywords: ensemble-consciousness; group leadership; hierarchy; jazz; narrative; orchestra; structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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