Creative Leadership Observatory: Critical Theory in Leadership

Hello readers, this is blog post 2 on the Creative Leadership Observatory! This week we covered the topics of Critical Theory as it relates to Leadership. Critical Theory is known as, “a group of theories that are concerned with the emancipation and liberation, the prevention of exploitation, the resolution of inequality and injustice” (McKee, 2022). Within this, we have been prompted with the following questions as fuel for thought:

1.     In what ways might a critical theory lens, disrupt existing leadership paradigms and contribute to more equitable and inclusive practices in leadership (although it is specific to leadership education try to think of it in a broader context)?

2.     In what ways, and in your own opinion, might creativity contribute to more equitable and inclusive leadership practices?

First, through the lens of critical theory, we are asked to challenge the power structures that have historically shaped our organizations and societies. Critical theory calls for leaders to question the dominant norms that maintain inequality, especially in terms of race, gender, and class. For us to ask, who among us can be leaders and how their power operates. This challenges the traditional form of leadership in that leadership is not simply hierarchal and can be more democratic. By being more inclusive, it forces those to consider how the marginalized are impacted by the outcomes of the power structures.  It encourages leaders to critically reflect on how their decisions might reinforce inequality and to actively seek strategies not just as a superficial goal, but acknowledging imbalances in power. This method allows for the rethinking decision-making and the very nature of what it means to be influential, supporting to serve the needs of all, rather than maintaining the status quo for a select few.

Second, creativity is pivotal towards more inclusive leadership, because creativity allows us to embrace new ways of thinking. With a creative mindset, leaders can embrace multiple perspectives, and critical thinking skills. With critical thinking skills, leaders can break away from the status quo, and find out of the box or innovational solutions to problems.

Tying creativity back to Critical Theory, we can look closer at the idea of reification. Reification is the process of treating abstract concepts as real, physical, or tangible things. Reification causes people to think about dynamic concepts as natural or fixed, and therefore, can be overlooked as concepts that have been social constructed, and therefore may need to be rethought with a more inclusive mindset.