Chapter 8: Capacious Model of Leadership Identities Construction

Construction of a leadership identity is integral to an individual’s leadership and entails a complex process of identity work (DeRue & Ashford, 2010; Ely, Ibarra, & Kolb, 2011; Karp & Helge, 2009; van Knippenberg, van Knippenberg, Cremer, & Hogg, 2004). The Capacious Model of Leadership Identities Construction described in this chapter (see Figure 8.1) presents an inclusive theoretical representation of the co-construction of leadership identities based on “capaciousness,” meaning the spaciousness to move and the capacity to hold much (Capacious, n. d.). Capaciousness is also a prime characteristic of the process of the model’s development, as it was formulated by a group of authors with various ontologies and epistemologies. As we applied our different paradigms in the process of articulating a new theoretical perspective on the construction of leadership identities, we unintentionally invoked scientific perspectivism, which argues that objectivity is colored by a person’s perspective and that one perspective is never fully accurate or complete (Giere, 2006). We thus examined the phenomenon of leadership identities construction through multiple lenses, resulting in a richer and more complex representation and new insights. Consequently, the Capacious Model offers an innovative theoretical interplay across ontologies and epistemologies, while simultaneously providing practical application as a diagnostic tool for understanding and constructing leadership identities, especially for women.