Managerial Lives Leadership and Identity in an Imperfect World

Organizations are often complex and unwieldy, and many managers have difficulty in combining ideals and positive identities with the complexities and imperfections of life. They are expected to be strategic and competent, while at the same time human and empathetic. This engaging book takes a fresh look at managerial work as experienced and understood by managers. It examines the central tenets of managerial life, such as the work expectations that managers have, the significance they assign to different activities, and the difficulties that they face. It also takes a wider view of working life by looking at subordination in the managerial context. The theoretical material is supported by in-depth interviews with thirteen managers from different organizations. This book will appeal to those with an interest in management, and in leadership and identity questions in modern working life.

Part I. Managerial Life - Managerial Work and the Managerial Identity: 1. Introduction; 2. Management - work, identity and leadership; Part II. Managerial Life - Roles and Identities: 3. Why management?; 4. The manager as change agent, strategist and networker; 5. The manager as humanist and moral example; Part III. Management - Ironies, Labyrinths and Pitfalls: 6. Self-view and managerial ideals meet reality - managerial work in practice; 7. Feedback, ignorance and self-esteem - the ironic elements of managerial life; 8. Managerial life and forms of identity work; 9. Leadership and identity in an imperfect world.

Stefan Sveningsson is Associate Professor of Business Administration at the School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Sweden. He has been visiting researcher at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University and Melbourne University. His research interests include strategic and organizational change, leadership, and management of knowledge work. His most recent book is Changing Organizational Culture, 2nd edition (2015) edited with Mats Alvesson.
Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administration at Lund University, Sweden, at the University of Queensland Business School, Australia, and at the Cass Business School, London. His research interests include critical theory, gender, leadership, identity and organizational image. His most recent books include The Triumph of Emptiness (2013) and Constructing Research Questions (2013), edited with J. Sandberg.