ABSTRACT

In Leading in Place, the authors open up new avenues in the debate on leadership by drawing the reader’s attention to the ways in which women can be—and are—leading in organizations and communities in sometimes unconventional, often unrecognized, ways.

Through surveys and interviews, this practitioner-academic team has conducted a thorough and fascinating study of women in various leadership roles, from paid high-level executives to community volunteers. The book bridges the chasm between what the experts write about leadership and what is experienced in organizations and communities. It pushes the reader to think about how unconscious biases have influenced perceptions of leadership in research and organizations. They suggest leadership research should be updated to integrate 21st century realities by moving past both bias towards male prototypes, as well as the ‘great women’ genre, revealing a wealth of experience and knowledge, including insights about leading in place.

With strategies for addressing issues around leadership at both the individual and organizational levels, this book will provide students of leadership as well as professionals with insights that challenge the ways we think about women leaders and leadership more generally.

part 1|48 pages

The Challenge

chapter 1|7 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|16 pages

How Leadership Gets Construed

chapter 3|13 pages

Taking Another Look

chapter |10 pages

First Interlude

Pivotal Points in Leadership Development

part II|84 pages

The Story from Many Voices

chapter 4|12 pages

Questions of Leadership, and Women

chapter 5|23 pages

‘Her Stories’ About Leading in Place

chapter |5 pages

Second Interlude

What Does Leadership Success Look Like?

chapter 6|21 pages

Women’s Perceptions

chapter 7|16 pages

Women’s Experiences

chapter |5 pages

Third Interlude

What Development Experiences Would Be Beneficial?

part 3|21 pages

What to Make of It

chapter 8|19 pages

Findings and Insights on Leading in Place

chapter |7 pages

Epilogue

Letter to Our (and Others’) Daughters