A proposal for an integrative public leadership framework

Abstract

The field of public leadership research is fragmented and in need of integration. This article proposes an integrative public leadership (IPL) framework anchored in integrative perspectivism, as developed by American philosopher Ken Wilber. It identifies singular and plural as well as exterior and interior aspects of public leadership, and through the principle of “transcend and include,” it can link theories of public leadership. One form of public leadership can be considered a whole in itself while simultaneously being transcended and included as part of a more complex form of public leadership. It is argued that the leader-follower theory of transformational leadership is transcended by and included in the multi-actor system theory of distributed leadership. In general, the IPL framework allows us to ask new questions about how the fragmented elements of public leadership research are linked and how the questions can address the difficult challenges faced by public leaders.