The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership

The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership is a remarkable reader covering the complexities of leading across time, and into the future, with authenticity. The handbook offers a fresh leadership perspective across a vast field of research, from leadership insight revealed by classic literature, to the role of political and multinational institutions, to the growing influence of the internet of things, and well beyond. Great leadership literature compels the individual to think well beyond the chapters. As the handbook is about original research into the topic, the questions and unique insights about the leadership conditions lead the reader to consider their own role and aspirations in leadership. It is truly a mind-expanding exploration into all things authentic leadership.

Like many helpful big ideas, the notion of authentic leadership can prove to be remarkably slippery when subjected to close academic scrutiny. With contributions from a wide diversity of expert contributors, The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership maps out and explores the boundaries of the landscape of authentic leadership, its literature, theory and practice, with commendable clarity and insight. I am encouraged to hope that its contribution will broaden our knowledge and understanding of the notion of authentic leadership, making it less slippery and more profoundly useful for many readers.

Scholars, practitioners, and the general public will enjoy this insightful handbook on authentic leadership lessons from AI, education, business, policy, NGO contexts, as well as COVID-19, which specifically benefits from considerable data and hindsight since the pandemic onset. This interdisciplinary author team blends historical approaches with the latest in the field to provide analysis and advice for leaders in corporations, non-profits, and the public sector. The variety of methodological approaches (e.g., bibliometrics, inductive qualitative research, and autoethnography) and contexts showcase state-of-the-art scholarship and practice in authentic leadership.

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, leadership plays an indispensable role in shaping society. With the emergence of alternative facts, truth decay, siloed thinking, and the unstoppable rise of AI, it has become increasingly difficult to come together and tackle regional and global issues while adhering to shared values. The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand and participate in the dialogue around the role of authentic leadership in today’s fluid world. It is a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary guide that serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about what it means to be an authentic leader and the important part it plays in our ability to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. I believe it spurs on multi stakeholder debate and further collaboration on the complex topic of authentic leadership.

In a world where the old paradigms are breaking down, we need leaders to guide our politics, institutions and organisations through the turbulent waters of the 21st century and enable the world to break through to new sustainable models of growth. What is leadership? How do we define it and what does ‘good’ look like, in a world increasingly disrupted by existential threats such as pandemics and climate change? What do we mean by ‘authentic and how does it “fit” with different cultures, social norms and the increasing intrusion of technology into decision-making? Finally, as new types of organisations and businesses emerge, what types of leadership are needed? The Emerald Handbook of Authentic Leadership gives us perspectives from multiple dimensions as to how we might answer these vital questions. It will provoke thinking and, hopefully, lead to different ways of being and seeing leaders in our modern world.