Story of my life: How life events and relations have led to my leadership emergence ; A qualitative study of formative and relational life stories that are significant for leadership emergence

Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to study leadership as an emergent phenomenon with an emphasis on relational and formative experiences. To understand leadership emergence, the thesis use a practice-lens based on acknowledgeable leader’s life narratives, and more interestingly how leaders have reflected and found meaning in the events. Based on a life story approach and insights from leader’s individual stories, four broad categories are identified: (1) getting people oriented through teams, (2) using struggles as sources of growth, (3) taking responsibility for progression, and (4) appropriating and channeling voices. Additionally, we have observed how sensemaking of certain life events can contribute to outcomes of agency- and communion themes and how these two themes impact and interact with each other. Moreover, our findings have revealed key tensions across the different categories that may work as trigger events for reflections and creating new learning. To emerge as leaders our findings show a high concern for taking responsibility for own development, through being aware of possibilities that lie ahead. Our findings indicate that it is not the events themselves that are the reason for leadership emergence. It is rather how individuals reflect on and makes sense of events, how events influence individual’s meaning making, and how the individuals use the learnings to develop certain qualities and behaviour patterns they use as leaders.