Once learned, never forgotten: effective leadership development with social construction as a threshold concept

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss leadership development with social construction as the underpinning theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an autoethnographic study of the author’s insights from teaching leadership from a social construction perspective.

Findings

The social construction approach to leadership looks and behaves as a threshold concept in leadership. It takes students’ learning to a higher level, opens up a new curriculum, and changes their understanding of leadership for good.

Originality/value

The discovery that the social construction approach to leadership looks and behaves as a threshold concept suggests that there is something fundamentally important with this perspective. It positions the social construction approach as an overarching theory that helps students re-evaluate, appreciate, and find value in traditional leadership theories.

Citation

Billsberry, J. (2016), "Once learned, never forgotten: effective leadership development with social construction as a threshold concept", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 24-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-06-2016-0044