Living the Xinka way: leadership rooted in Indigenous worldview

This study examines the leadership practices of the Xinka people, an Indigenous group in southern Guatemala, with the goal of contributing to understanding how their cultural values influence leadership behaviors. Through a constructivist grounded theory approach, this research involved 20 interviews with Xinka leaders from various communities in Guatemala. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods, including open, axial, and selective coding, to develop a conceptual model of Xinka leadership practices. Key practices identified include an emphasis on walking with knowledge, honoring relational worlds, and walking for the people. These practices highlight the leaders’ roles in maintaining cultural heritage and navigating contemporary challenges. By situating leadership within the Xinka’s lived realities, this study advances Indigenous leadership scholarship and underscores the need for culturally rooted, practice-based models. Future research could explore the applicability of the leadership-as-practice model to other Indigenous contexts, deepening the understanding of leadership in diverse cultural landscapes.