Book review: Reflexive leadership: Organising in an imperfect world

In this ambitious book, the authors make the case for reflexive leadership. However, readers may be surprised by what exactly defines the premises and practices of reflexive leadership according to this work. The short definition of leadership here is: ‘influencing ideas, meanings, understandings and identities of others within an asymmetrical (unequal) relational context’ (p. 3). But unlike what may be expected, the book does not just argue for more and better of such leadership. On the contrary, the authors argue for reflexive leadership – by incorporating considerations as to when leadership may also not be the best solution to organizational challenges: ‘Being aware of different options and thinking carefully about having more or less of leadership or other ways of organizing are vital’ (p. 3), they stress.