Leadership as meaning‐making

Purpose – This paper aims to explore leadership from a cognitive perspective as a meaning‐making activity. Proposes that a primary role of leadership is to bring meaning to working life, especially in times of change.Design/methodology/approach – Draws on experience of, and observation from, working with management and leadership groups from major organizations across all sectors. Starts with the idea that life is a continuous process of making sense of the world by integrating hierarchical cognitive structures. Suggests that the work of leadership is to orchestrate such meaning‐making at the organizational level, especially in times of rapid change. Contends that having a clear purpose makes work intrinsically rewarding and meaningful, and enables people to relate in collaborative structures such as teams; leadership enables people to rise to challenges, releasing energy that otherwise is expended on resistance to change; and leadership can be understood as a meaning‐making activity that ensures organiza...