Critical Social Theory: A Critical View Of Leadership

Leadership is limited by the perspectives that we have which are usually informal theories that we know to be normal. Critical social theory is a tool to get a perspective for leadership theory and is a direct rejection of positivism. Research is said to be biased because those who engage in it, weather or not they are aware of it, act from a set of assumptions that influences their decisions. Critical social theories also assume structural inequality and challenge the taken for granted assumptions while holding people responsible for their own liberation and progressing toward social justice.

There are three central themes of critical social theory that were chosen to enhance the understanding of leadership. First, is the stocks of knowledge

The tools for deconstruction start with ideological critique which is meant to question what is believed to be normal. Number two is commodification which looks to see how maximizing productivity can dehumanize people. Number three is willful blindness and looks at why people remain unaware, on purpose, to avoid responsibilities and also will show complacency with hegemony systems. Lastly, is the flow of power which looks at the degree to which power is acknowledged on how it works and shapes our experiences. Power is central to any social theory and needs to be understood in its

First comes metacognition which entails thinking about how we think and have an understanding of one 's own thought process. Number two is critical self-reflection and it is used to examine assumptions of critical perspectives which are usually unchallenged. This process allows us to reflect and question our own assumptions and the meanings of them. The third tool is social perspective taking which is the ability to adapt someone else 's point of view. It is said that “people are about twice as likely to seek information that supports their own point of you as they are to consider and a an opposing idea.” This is the power stacks of knowledge, ideology/hegemony, and social location have over our thinking and we must begin by understanding others beliefs. Number four is dialectical thinking which is the ability to take two opposite concepts and have a debate. This is intended to resolve differences between the two of them rather than having one as the truth. Lastly, is critical hope which moves toward social justice and derived from a realistic appraisal of conditions with the ability to see a better