Final answer:
Stephen D. Reicher's book 'The New Psychology of Leadership' highlights the importance of followership research, examining the leadership-follower dynamic and the role of charismatic leadership. It explores how individual differences among followers influence their response to leadership, emphasizing no single dynamic works for all. It also touches upon the concept of overused strengths in leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book 'The New Psychology of Leadership' by Stephen D. Reicher explores the intricate dynamics of leadership through the lens of psychology, emphasizing the two-way relationship between leaders and followers. This perspective shifts away from considering leaders in isolation and instead focuses on the interconnectedness between the leadership and the responses and identities of the followers. The novel viewpoint of followership research is crucial to understanding this relationship, pointing out that due to individual differences, there is no one-size-fits-all dynamic in leadership. Studies cited in the book, such as those by Neustadt, Skowronek, and Popper, provide a broad framework that applies these theories to contemporary and historical leadership scenarios, including charismatic leadership and its impact on leader-follower dynamics.
Reicher's examination of leadership also delves into the tendency of overused strengths and how they can lead to lopsided leadership, as discussed in the work of Kaiser & Overfield. The theories in the book align with E.A. Rees's description of the 'leader cult', presenting the importance of looking beyond the surface of leadership to the underlying psychological processes. By understanding the diverse responses of individuals to different leadership styles, one can grasp the complex and nuanced nature of what effective leadership entails.