Women in Power: Pathways to Leadership in Education (Athene Series)

In this exciting addition to the field of leadership development, author Barbara Curry charts a course for women as leaders on their own terms. Curry moves beyond traditional, formulaic conceptions to examine leadership as a fluid, adaptive process closely entwined with adult development. Drawing from philosophical, sociological, and physiological explorations of the leader persona, Curry approaches leadership as an interdisciplinary art. She casts aside mythical characterizations of leadership to illuminate a more holistic conceptual framework that fosters the development of authentic leadership. Using portraits of eight women in high-level leadership roles, Curry probes the kinds of conflict that often accompany women s ascendancy to positions of power. Thoughtfully, Curry examines the constellation of character traits and environmental circumstances that enable individuals to perceive of themselves as leaders and to function productively in such roles. The book s dynamic approach provides a bridge between explanation and proactive intervention, offering guidance for organizations and institutions aiming to encourage employees ascendancy to leadership positions. Through incisive analysis of the psychological and sociological evolution of women s emergence in leadership roles, the Developing Leader Persona will enable both women and men to don the mantle of leadership with increased confidence This volume charts a course for women as leaders on their own terms. Drawing from philosophical, sociological, and physiological explorations of the leadership persona, the author appraoches leadership as an interdisciplinary art. "Characterizations of leadership have been variable, and definitions of 'good' have been vague even though the two have always gone together on the page, in the literature, and finally as part of an organization's survival code."