This paper develops an understanding of how shared leadership emerges in social network interactions. On the basis of a qualitative research design (grounded theory methodology – GTM) our study in two interorganizational networks offers insights into the interplay between structures, individuals, and the collective for the emergence of shared network leadership (SNL). The network-specific Gestalt of SNL appears as a pattern of collective and individual leadership activities unified under the roof of a highly developed learning conversation. More importantly, our findings support the idea that individual network leadership would not emerge without embeddedness in certain high-quality collective processes of relating and dialogue. Both theoretical and practical implications of this original network leadership perspective are discussed.
Qualitative Research Inquiry to Explore the Corporate Leaders in the Time of COVID-19
