Barbara Kellerman

Barbara Kellerman is a leadership scholar and professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, where she held the position of Founding Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership. She has authored and edited over 40 books focused on leadership, followership, and organizational behavior. Her work is particularly known for challenging conventional wisdom about leadership, including her influential critiques of the leadership development industry and her analysis of bad leadership. The book "Bad Leadership: What It Is, How It Happens, Why It Matters" (2004) established her as a prominent voice in examining the dark side of leadership. Kellerman developed the Leadership Spectrum, a framework that ranks levels of leadership engagement from least to most engaged. She also pioneered the academic study of followership, notably through her book "Followership: How Followers Are Creating Change and Changing Leaders" (2008), which helped establish followership as a distinct field of study. Her more recent work has focused on the decline of leadership authority in contemporary society and the changing dynamics of power in organizations. These themes are explored in works such as "The End of Leadership" (2012) and "Hard Times: Leadership in America" (2014).

Readers value Kellerman's direct criticism of leadership industry myths and her research-based approach. Reviews highlight her ability to question established leadership theories with clear examples and historical context. What readers liked: - Clear analysis of leadership failures and misconduct - Strong research supporting key arguments - Practical frameworks for understanding power dynamics - Focus on followers' roles and responsibilities What readers disliked: - Academic writing style can be dry and dense - Some books repeat similar concepts across chapters - Limited practical solutions or action steps - High-level theoretical focus rather than tactical advice Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Bad Leadership" 3.8/5 (327 ratings) - Amazon: "The End of Leadership" 4.1/5 (58 reviews) - Amazon: "Followership" 4.2/5 (42 reviews) One reader noted: "Kellerman cuts through the leadership industry's feel-good fluff with hard evidence." Another criticized: "Important ideas buried in overly academic prose that could have been more accessible."

Bad Leadership: What It Is, How It Happens, Why It Matters (2004) A systematic study of seven types of bad leadership, examining real-world cases of destructive leadership behaviors and their consequences.

Followership: How Followers Are Creating Change and Changing Leaders (2008) An analysis of the role of followers in organizational dynamics, categorizing different types of followers and their impact on leadership outcomes.

The End of Leadership (2012) An examination of how leadership has changed in the 21st century, addressing the decline of authority and the shift in power dynamics between leaders and followers.

Hard Times: Leadership in America (2014) A critical analysis of leadership challenges in modern American society across various sectors including business, politics, and culture.

Leadership: Essential Selections on Power, Authority, and Influence (2010) A compilation of historical and contemporary writings on leadership theory and practice from various thought leaders and scholars.

Professionalizing Leadership (2018) An investigation into leadership education and development, questioning current approaches and proposing new frameworks for leadership training.

Leaders Who Lust: Power, Money, Sex, Success, Legitimacy, Legacy (2020) A study of how different forms of lust influence leadership behavior and decision-making through historical and contemporary examples.

Ronald Heifetz focuses on adaptive leadership theory and leading through complex organizational change. His work "Leadership Without Easy Answers" explores how leaders navigate uncertainty and mobilize groups to tackle difficult challenges.

Warren Bennis examines leadership development and organizational behavior through empirical research. His books analyze leadership styles across sectors and document how leaders emerge and evolve over their careers.

Jean Lipman-Blumen studies the dynamics of power, politics, and gender in leadership contexts. Her research investigates toxic leadership and the ways followers enable destructive leaders.

Edgar Schein researches organizational culture and how leaders shape institutional values and practices. His work provides frameworks for understanding cultural change and the relationship between leadership and organizational identity.

Michael Maccoby analyzes the psychological dimensions of leadership and organizational life. His writings explore narcissistic leadership and the changing nature of leader-follower relationships in modern organizations.