Regrounding the concept of leadership Available to Purchase

Reports the initial exploratory studies in a programme of research that aims to investigate the role of mental models in leadership. Drawing from a cognitive approach, the studies use metaphors as tools to illustrate the models of the leadership construct that are prevalent in lay psychology in an atheoretical, decontextualised manner. The findings show that lay concepts of leadership are less complex and more robust than academic concepts. Implications for both research and the transfer of knowledge to industry are discussed.