A POSitive approach to strategic leadership: Lessons from a university president
Spreitzer, G.M., Coleman, M., & Gruber, D. (2006). A POSitive approach to strategic leadership: Lessons from a university president. In R. Hooijberg, J. Hunt, K. Boal, & J. Antonakis, (Eds.), Leadership in and of organizations (pp. 155-172). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Abstract:
In this chapter, two academics from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan collaborate with the President of their university to present their experiences and ideas about positive strategic leadership. Positive strategic leadership is derived from the juxtaposition of ideas from the growing movement on positive organizational scholarship with what is already known from the literature on strategic leadership. The authors embed new views into current theoretical perspectives on strategic leadership to attempt an integrative overview and use the president’s experiences during the nationally followed Affirmative Action cases as a vehicle for illustrating five themes: (1) A lifetime of experiences shapes who you are, (2) issues commonly choose you before you choose them, (3) begin with a purpose in mind, (4) appreciate divergent views, and (5) be a beacon for the future. Additionally, the authors provide practitioners with some ‘‘takeaways’’ on positive strategic leadership.