Humanistic Leadership within the Organization

2020 ◽  
pp. 139-163
Keyword(s):  
Humanistic Leadership

Humanistic leadership in a Chinese context

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-566
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Pingping Fu ◽  
‘Alim J. Beveridge ◽  
Qing Qu
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Use Case ◽  
Common Elements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
Humanistic Leadership ◽  
Leadership Research ◽  
Acting In Concert

PurposeThrough three case studies, the authors aim to examine how Confucian humanistic philosophy can be applied to leadership practices and show how it is possible to practice humanistic leadership in the Chinese context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use case studies of three exemplary humanistic leaders and the companies they lead to describe their leadership practices and influence on others and their companies.FindingsThe authors identify three common elements that connect their observations to an emerging scholarly conceptualization of humanistic leadership and develop a framework of Confucian humanistic leadership consisting of five attributes. The cases the authors studied suggest that the five attributes should be understood as being mutually reinforcing and acting in concert, rather than each acting independently of the others. The authors found that there is inherent consistency and connection between the core values of Confucianism and humanistic leadership.Originality/valueThe research contributes to the leadership literature, specifically the emerging literature on humanistic leadership, by introducing a framework for Confucian humanistic leadership. While much of the extant literature on humanistic leadership has been conceptual, the study shows how it is possible to practice humanistic leadership in the Chinese context by drawing on the foundation provided by Confucian humanistic philosophy. The findings also contribute to humanistic leadership research by providing important insights into specific capabilities that can help put the principles of humanistic leadership into practice, but that have not been considered to date.

Humanistic leadership in the UAE context

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-664
Author(s):  
Yaprak Anadol ◽  
Mohamed Behery
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Private University ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Leadership Theories ◽  
Cultural Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Roots ◽  
Humanistic Leadership

PurposeThe main intention of this paper is to understand humanistic leadership through an eminent leader representing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) culture. The authors identified a prominent humanistic leader of a well-known private university in Dubai as an example, analyzing his leadership approach from a humanistic lens and demonstrating humanistic leadership characteristics linked to the cultural roots.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is designed as a single case to examine how humanistic leadership behaviors and practices are applied in an organization and how they are connected to the UAE culture. The leader and his seven followers are interviewed by using semi-structured forms, and inductive conventional content analysis was utilized to identify common themes and concepts related to humanistic leadership traits in the UAE.FindingsThe paper highlights ten themes named humility, respect, care, fairness, transparency, well-being orientation, generosity, family focus and will with humanistic determination. These themes coincide with the various well-accepted humanistic literature theories and are also aligned with salient Islamic values and the existing humanistic leadership theories. A humanistic leadership description is provided to show the implications to the UAE context.Research limitations/implicationsThis study only focuses on a single higher education institution, and further studies need to be conducted to reach a generalization.Practical implicationsThe paper offers an alternative humanistic leadership for government departments, semi private and private companies to create an organizational culture where those values are flourished and creating an awareness in youth leadership programs to include humanistic leadership principles that will eventually increase social welfare.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight into humanistic leadership phenomenon by giving a contextual example from the UAE. As there has been no attempt to link humanistic leadership to the UAE culture, the findings of this paper will contribute to cross-cultural leadership research.

Humanistic leadership: Lessons from Latin America

2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 548-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anabella Davila ◽  
Marta M. Elvira
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Humanistic Leadership ◽  
Leadership Lessons

Leading in an Amish Paradise: humanistic leadership in the Old Order Amish

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-485
Author(s):  
Charles Keim ◽  
Masoud Shadnam
Keyword(s):  
Census Data ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Lead Author ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Old Order Amish ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Community ◽  
Old Order ◽  
Humanistic Leadership

PurposeThe authors examined the traditional leadership practiced by the Old Order Amish located in the Holmes and Wayne counties of America. Despite popular stereotypes, this community is remarkably innovative and resilient. Amish leadership aligns with the central tenets of humanistic leadership and provides a rich illustration of how such a leadership paradigm can foster a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable community. Unlike current leadership models that focus on instrumental values like wealth, profit and growth, Amish leadership is concerned with faith, community and living a simple life with purpose and dignity.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data required for this paper were collected by the lead author during a six-month ethnographic study on several Amish communities located in Ohio. The authors also consulted a large set of archival data, including think tank reports, census data, biographies, magazine features and academic publications, which helped in placing the primary data in perspective and reminding of the particularities of the contexts from which the primary data were collected. For the data analysis, the authors used a thematic analysis approach to allow the salient themes of Amish humanistic leadership emerge from the data.FindingsA total offour themes emerged from this study: (1) leadership as local identity and practice; (2) leaders without benefits, chosen by the lot; (3) leaders present matters, followers discuss and decide; (4) community welfare as the yardstick for evaluation. These themes highlighted some of the key aspects of humanistic leadership eclipsed in the mainstream theories of management and leadership. They showed how the Amish respond to the encroachment of technology, which holds critical clues for how humanistic leaders can place the needs of their people before the demands of their shareholders. By examining Amish leadership in detail, this study demonstrated the potential of humanistic leadership for creating a strong and sustainable community while also contributing to the empirical foundation of humanistic management.Originality/valueGiven the closed nature of the Amish, only few academic studies exist, which examined their leadership style. Furthermore, the traditional and conservative nature of the Amish community has prevented critics from investigating their leadership as a model for revitalizing other communities.

Mechanism of humanistic leadership for success: lessons from Konosuke Matsushita

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-644
Author(s):  
Kaori Ono ◽  
Jusuke J.J. Ikegami
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Japanese Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Japanese Management ◽  
Humanistic Leadership ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
A Company

PurposeThis study contributes to the construction of a theory on humanistic leadership in the context of Japanese culture. Although the Japanese management system has been described as human-oriented, there has been limited research on this subject, especially regarding top leaders. This case study focuses on Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), who devoted his life as a businessperson to investigating human nature. The authors examined how the humanistic approach influenced his beliefs and behaviors, as well as his company's performance. The authors then show how current employees at Panasonic have implemented and interpreted his philosophy.Design/methodology/approachThis research is a qualitative case study. Data were gathered from transcriptions of archived recordings, interviews and Internet documents. They were then coded for analyses.FindingsThe findings show how humanistic leadership can succeed via seven behaviors: building a company philosophy aimed at the prosperity of society and the well-being of people, being aware of one's own weaknesses, listening to others, improving oneself, developing people, respecting people and making a profit for society.Originality/valueThe study identifies the behavioral aspects of humanistic leadership for building a leadership theory and provides insight into how Matsushita's leadership characteristics and behaviors are connected to Japanese cultural values.

Humanistic Leadership in Work Organizations

2013 ◽  
pp. 413-426
Author(s):  
Rehana Hayat ◽  
Abubakr M. Suliman
Keyword(s):  
Work Organizations ◽  
Humanistic Leadership
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