The Leader in Context: Developing Leaders by Adopting a Self-in-Systems Approach

How can leader development programs effectively incorporate context? Responding to criticism that traditional leader development programs have experienced a “context deficit,” we argue that recognizing that leaders are embedded in “systems” can enable context to be incorporated into leader development to enhance its effectiveness. We articulate a “self-in-systems” approach to leader development that outlines how leaders’ self-focused dynamic functioning within systems can create opportunities for growth that can enhance leader maturity. In particular, we showcase how a self-in-systems approach can enhance differentiation of self and promote leader maturity by enabling leaders to navigate the context in ways that align with who they want to be as a leader. Beyond introducing the self-in-systems approach, we also outline how to adapt and expand existing leader development practices to support this novel approach to leader development. We conclude by showcasing considerations and benefits of a self-in-systems approach for advancing leader development theory and practice.