Zombie Leadership Ideas – Spotlight #4

Old Zombie Leadership Ideas

Haslam, S.A.,  Alvesson, M. & Reicher, S.D. (2024). Zombie leadership: Dead ideas that still walk among us. The Leadership Quarterly 35 (2024) 101770

Core Idea

The article argues that despite advancements in leadership research, many outdated and debunked leadership ideas persist. The authors term these “zombie leadership” ideas—concepts that have been repeatedly discredited yet refuse to die. These ideas persist not because they have empirical support, but because they serve the interests of elites, the leadership industry, and a general public that finds comfort in simple leadership narratives. The paper identifies eight core axioms of zombie leadership and explores why they continue to thrive despite being flawed.

Zombie Ideas That Still Live On

The article identifies eight “axioms” (core claims) of zombie leadership:

1. Leadership is all about leaders
   • Leadership is treated as the property of individuals rather than a process involving relationships and group dynamics.
2. There are specific qualities that all great leaders “have”
   • Leadership is attributed to inherent traits (e.g., charisma, intelligence) rather than being shaped by context and followership.
3. There are specific things that all great leaders do
   • A belief in universal leadership behaviors (e.g., initiating change, being fair) when in reality, effective leadership depends on context.
4. We all know a great leader when we see one
   • Leadership greatness is assumed to be universally recognizable, ignoring the role of cultural and situational bias in shaping leadership perceptions.
5. All leadership is the same
   • Leadership is treated as a fixed set of principles that apply everywhere, rather than something that varies across contexts.
6. Leadership is a special skill limited to special people
   • Leadership is often portrayed as an elite activity, reinforcing inequalities and discouraging collective leadership.
7. Leadership is always good and beneficial for everyone
   • Leadership is framed as inherently positive, ignoring its potential to reinforce inequalities or even be harmful.
8. People can’t cope without leaders
   • There is an assumption that leadership is always necessary for group success, dismissing evidence that groups can self-organize effectively without formal leaders.

Importance of This Issue

The persistence of zombie leadership ideas is problematic for several reasons:

• It distorts leadership development. Many leadership training programs cater to elite individuals while ignoring group dynamics, making leadership less effective.
• It reinforces inequality. The myth of “special” leaders justifies excessive power and rewards for a few while sidelining the contributions of others.
• It limits innovation. Organizations that cling to rigid leadership models often fail to adapt effectively to changing circumstances.
• It enables toxic leadership. By assuming all leadership is good, people ignore or excuse harmful leadership practices.
• It affects broader societal structures. Leadership myths shape not only businesses but also politics and governance, sometimes legitimizing authoritarian or exclusionary practices.

What Can We Do?

The authors suggest several ways to counter zombie leadership:

1. Challenge the myths. Critically examine leadership assumptions and reject simplistic, elite-serving narratives.
2. Focus on leadership as a process, not a person. Emphasize leadership as something that happens within groups, not just the actions of an individual.
3. Recognize the role of followership. Leadership is co-created by leaders and followers, and both should be studied together.
4. Emphasize context. Leadership effectiveness depends on specific circumstances, so there is no universal formula.
5. Rethink leadership development. Instead of training an elite few, leadership development should be more inclusive and focus on fostering collective leadership.
6. Engage with real-world leadership challenges. Research should not just be academic; it should address the complexities and messiness of leadership in real organizations.
7. Communicate findings beyond academia. Researchers should engage more with the public to challenge misleading leadership narratives in the media and business world.
8. Encourage shared and distributed leadership. Organizations should empower people at all levels to contribute to leadership rather than concentrating power at the top.

Final Takeaway

Zombie leadership persists because it serves powerful interests and simplifies complex social processes. However, by critically examining and challenging these outdated ideas, we can develop a more nuanced and effective understanding of leadership—one that is inclusive, evidence-based, and suited to contemporary challenges.

Read the article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984323000966

Photo by KoolShooters : https://www.pexels.com/photo/flowers-and-candles-over-the-tombs-6495747/

Old ideas on leadership persist. That is because they are attractive and ofte simple. But the truth is, leadership is a complex phenomenon within organizations and societies. When developing leadership, we should be careful with these simple ideas and make sure we take into consideration the many dimensions leadership has. Otolith looks at leadership from different perspectives. Let’s talk about how you can develop leadership in your organization.