All Outputs (48)

Church leaders’ narratives: An exploration in uncertainty and complexity (2011)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Organizational uncertainty and change sometimes requires leaders to practice the art of engaging with not knowing. At its simplest this art constitutes the act of moving forwards with the conscious awareness that all decision making is based on infor... Read More about Church leaders’ narratives: An exploration in uncertainty and complexity.

Philosophy of leadership (2011)
Book Chapter

We do not intend this chapter to be simply a dry chronicle or catalogue of leadership philosophies. For one thing, even were such an audacious project pursued, it would doubtless prove to be more than anyone could possibly accomplish in a lifetime an... Read More about Philosophy of leadership.

Downplaying leadership. Researching how leaders talk about themselves (2011)
Book Chapter

This chapter identifies the notion of downplaying leadership. Whilst some attempt is made to explore the meaning of this practice, our primary intention is to describe a method and framework for analysing the transcripts of leadership interviews. Th... Read More about Downplaying leadership. Researching how leaders talk about themselves.

The 'work group': Redressing the balance in Bion's experiences in groups (2010)
Journal Article

The intention of this article is to explore and develop Wilfred Bion's theory of groups, and to contribute to its wider application across the social sciences. Bion suggested that groups operate simultaneously in two strictly contrasting ways, based... Read More about The 'work group': Redressing the balance in Bion's experiences in groups.

Engaging with the unknowable through narratives of personal experience (2010)
Journal Article

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential function of narratives of personal experience in engaging with unknowable reality. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on research on managers working with the unknown using narr... Read More about Engaging with the unknowable through narratives of personal experience.

Engaging with the unknowable through narratives of personal experience (2010)
Journal Article

Purpose: This paper explores the potential function of narratives of personal experience in engaging with unknowable reality. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on research on managers working with the unknown using narrative methods toget... Read More about Engaging with the unknowable through narratives of personal experience.

Creative development in Bion’s work group: The desire for knowledge and the pursuit of truth (2009)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

In this paper we seek to contribute to the extensive literature utilising Bion’s theory of group functioning by employing a more developed treatment of the work-group than is commonly employed. Whilst we continue to recognise the value of an understa... Read More about Creative development in Bion’s work group: The desire for knowledge and the pursuit of truth.

Negative capability: A contribution to the understanding of creative leadership (2009)
Book Chapter

Our aim in this chapter is to suggest how the idea of ‘negative capability’ may contribute to an understanding of the creative leader. We begin by exploring the origins of the term negative capability and its meaning in the creative arts and in psych... Read More about Negative capability: A contribution to the understanding of creative leadership.

Leadership, spirituality and complexity. Wilberforce and the abolition of the slave trade (2008)
Book Chapter

Creative dialogue (2008)
Book Chapter

Stories (2008)
Book Chapter

Contemplative leadership (2007)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

The leadership of change involves both an engagement with uncertainty and an expectation to be the one to provide certainty for others. This paper will reflect on the nature of contemplative leadership, suggesting that it involves engaging with this... Read More about Contemplative leadership.

Organising in the mist: A case study in leadership and complexity (2007)
Journal Article

Downplaying Leadership: Researching How Leaders Talk About Themselves (2006)
Journal Article

This article identifies the notion of downplaying leadership. While some attempt is made to explore the meaning of this practice, our primary intention is to describe a method and framework for analysing the transcripts of leadership interviews. This... Read More about Downplaying Leadership: Researching How Leaders Talk About Themselves.

Negative Capability and the Capacity to Think in the Present Moment: Some Implications for Leadership Practice (2006)
Journal Article

Two themes that are prevalent in the literature on leadership practice are planning for the future and learning from the past. In this ‘Leading Questions’ piece, we raise the question of whether, in addition, attention needs to be given to a third el... Read More about Negative Capability and the Capacity to Think in the Present Moment: Some Implications for Leadership Practice.

Thoughtful leadership. Lessons from Bion (2005)
Journal Article

In the competing discourses within organisations, primacy tends to be given to decisive, action oriented, knowing leadership in contrast to more reflective, patient, thoughtful leadership. This paper argues that there is an important place for ‘thoug... Read More about Thoughtful leadership. Lessons from Bion.

Leadership and negative capability (2002)
Journal Article

Our aim in this article is to explore and explain the concept of 'negative capability', in the context of the current resurgence of interest in organizational leadership. We suggest that negative capability can create an intermediate space that enabl... Read More about Leadership and negative capability.

Introducing complex systems using the red-blue exercise (2001)
Journal Article

The red-blue exercise provides a powerful yet manageable example of a complex system in action. A systems analysis is offered that demonstrates how the exercise may be used as an educational tool to introduce the subject of complex systems.

Leaders achieving focus in the place of not knowing (2000)
Journal Article

The senior manager's role is to constantly identify and clarify what to focus on and then to direct energy into that focus. This involves learning to gain clarity of purpose within a context of uncertainty and disagreement: the place of not knowing.... Read More about Leaders achieving focus in the place of not knowing.

Using a red-blue exercise to facilitate learning about complex systems (2000)
Journal Article

The red-blue exercise is an example of an iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD) and is commonly used in educational and training settings to help participants to develop skills in conflict management, negotiation, and inter-group dynamics. In this paper,... Read More about Using a red-blue exercise to facilitate learning about complex systems.