Sage Publications

Critical Issues and Emerging Trends in Leadership

Sage Publications

Critical Issues and Emerging Trends in Leadership

Sage Instructors

Instructor: Sage Instructors

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Examine leadership as a social and socio-cognitive phenomenon

  • Understand the role of relationships in leadership dynamics

  • Analyze leadership through feminist and critical perspectives

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Recently updated!

September 2026

Assessments

16 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the The SAGE Handbook of Leadership Specialization
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There are 15 modules in this course

This module explores the role of context in leadership, examining how environmental and situational factors influence leadership effectiveness. Learners will analyze contingency theories and evaluate the impact of contextual variables on leadership outcomes. The module also addresses methodological challenges in studying leadership in different contexts.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment

This module explores leadership in alternative organizational structures such as cooperatives, social movements, and militant organizations. Learners will examine how leadership is conceptualized, produced, and operated in these non-traditional contexts, and consider the implications for leadership studies.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment

This module explores the complex relationship between leadership and culture, focusing on cross-cultural theories, postcolonial perspectives, and indigenous leadership practices. Learners will develop an understanding of how cultural contexts shape leadership perceptions and practices, and how to approach leadership research in diverse settings.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment

This module explores various conceptions of power in leadership, including power over, power to, and power with. Learners will understand how these forms of power influence organisational structures and collaborative processes. It also examines the evolving role of leadership in modern, technology-driven environments.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment

This module explores alternative leadership concepts rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, focusing on ideas like hesitancy, paradox, and flexibility. It introduces learners to the Tao Te Ching and its practical implications for modern leadership. Through critical analysis, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Eastern philosophies can inform contemporary leadership practices.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores how leadership concepts are represented and experienced through popular culture, including films, TV shows, and social media. Learners will analyze how these cultural narratives shape our understanding of leadership and identify key lessons for real-world leadership development.

What's included

1 video8 readings1 assignment

This module explores how context influences healthcare leadership, covering leadership strategies, contextual challenges, and the impact of global and local differences. It examines healthcare as a complex system and the role of sense-making in leadership decisions. Learners will gain insights into developing adaptive leadership for evolving healthcare environments.

What's included

1 video8 readings1 assignment

This module explores the concept of destructive leadership by analyzing the toxic triangle model, examining how leader traits, follower behavior, and organizational contexts interact to enable harmful leadership. It also investigates the limitations of traditional leadership concepts and highlights the importance of environment in shaping leadership outcomes.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores the concept of leadership in modern organizations, challenges traditional leadership models, and introduces alternative theories and practical approaches to understanding leadership dynamics. It covers theoretical and practical perspectives, encouraging critical thinking about how leadership is perceived and applied in real-world settings.

What's included

1 video7 readings1 assignment

This module delves into the complexities of paradoxical leadership, exploring how leaders can effectively balance agentic and communal behaviors. It examines practical strategies for managing contradictions in leadership and the role of sense-making in fostering organizational success. Learners will gain insights into the interplay between leadership styles and situational demands.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores leadership through a dialectical lens, examining how opposing forces shape leadership practices and theories. Learners will gain insights into the dynamic nature of leadership and the role of paradox in organizational contexts. The module also introduces critical approaches to analyzing leadership through empirical research and theoretical frameworks.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment

This module explores the concept of caring leadership, focusing on its impact on follower well-being, relational dynamics, and power structures within organizations. It delves into both the positive and critical dimensions of care, including self-care and the risks of self-sacrifice. Learners will gain insight into how care can shape organizational culture and ethical leadership practices.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores how leadership is shaped by the body and emotions, moving beyond traditional mind-centric views. It investigates the intersection of leadership, identity, power, and embodiment, offering new insights into organizational practices. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of how embodied and affective dimensions influence leadership theories and actions.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores new materialities theories and their implications for understanding leadership, focusing on how relational assemblages shape organizational practices. It introduces key concepts from feminist new materialism and Karen Barad's agential realism, and evaluates how these perspectives challenge traditional leadership frameworks. Learners will gain insight into the intersections of theory, practice, and materiality in leadership studies.

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment

This module explores the role of leadership representation in advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice. It examines historical and contemporary challenges faced by equity-seeking groups in leadership roles, the impact of intersectionality, and the symbolic and socioeconomic significance of representation. Learners will gain insight into how representation influences organizational and societal outcomes.

What's included

1 video7 readings2 assignments

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Sage Instructors
Sage Publications
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