PhD defence F.W. (Folkert) Mulder

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

New Forms of Leadership
Leading in Plurality, Pluralistic Leadership

My research addresses the changing paradigm of leadership. Traditionally, leadership is framed within a hierarchical structure, with a single leader at the apex guiding followers. However, increasingly organizations are moving away from this model towards less hierarchy. Despite existing literature on the shift in leadership, there remains a notable gap, particularly regarding its practical application and actual emergence. Our research focuses on the practical implementation of pluralistic leadership.

A key focus of our research is the manifestation of pluralistic leadership in professional sports teams. Given the intense team dynamics and performance pressures in sports, the nuances of pluralistic leadership are made more explicit. Players in this setting are highly interdependent, leading to the emergence of various leadership styles, including pluralistic leadership. This dynamic offers valuable insights for businesses and non-profit organizations on how to lead in an increasingly complex world. Building on our insights into pluralistic leadership, our study delves deeper into the transition from conventional hierarchical models to more flattened leadership perspectives.

Encouraged by these findings, we have expanded our research to include intergroup leadership, aiming to deepen our understanding of how leaders guide other leaders. While this research is supplementary to our primary focus on pluralistic leadership, it provides valuable perspectives and establishes connections with the broader theme of leadership in pluralistic settings.