A Falling of the Veils: Turning Points and Momentous Turning Points in Leadership and the Creation of CSR

Abstract

This article uses the life stories approach to leadership and leadership development. Using exploratory, qualitative data from a Forbes Global 2000 and FTSE 100 company, we discuss the role of the turning point (TP) as an important antecedent of leadership in corporate social responsibility. We argue that TPs are causally efficacious, linking them to the development of life narratives concerned with an evolving sense of personal identity. Using both a multi-disciplinary perspective and a multi-level focus on CSR leadership, we identify four narrative cases. We propose that they helped to re-define individuals' sense of self and in some extreme cases completely transformed their self-identity as leaders of CSR. Hence, we also distinguish the momentous turning point (MTP) that created a seismic shift in personality, through re-evaluation of the individuals' personal values. We argue that whilst TPs are developmental experiences that can produce responsible leadership, the MTP changes the individuals' personal priorities in life to produce responsible leadership that perhaps did not exist previously. Thus, we appropriate Maslow's (Religions, values and peak experiences, Penguin, New York, 1976, p 77) metaphorical phrase 'A falling of the veils' from his discussion of peak and desolation experiences that produce personal growth. Using a multi-disciplinary literature from social theory (Archer in The reflexive imperative in late modernity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2012) moral psychology (Narvaez, in: Narvaez, Lapsley (eds) Personality, identity and character: explorations in moral psychology, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009) and social psychology (Schwartz, in: Mikulincer, Shaver (eds) Prosocial motives, emotions, and behaviour: the better angels of our nature, American Psychological Association, Washington, 2010), we present a theoretical model that illustrates the psychological process of the (M)TP, thus contributing to the growing literature on the microfoundations of CSR.

Influence Mechanism of Dynamic Evolution of Chinese Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneurial Motivation on Performance—The Role of Turning Points and Empathy

“…Research has found that in some cases, major events can reconstruct one’s values, and even sublimate them ( Hemingway and Starkey, 2018 ). Once the moral characteristics are strongly triggered, they will become the stable character characteristics of the triggered person ( Hemingway and Starkey, 2018 ).…”

“…Existing studies on the entrepreneurial motivation of commercial entrepreneurs are divided. Research found that in some cases major events restructure a person’s values and even sublimate values ( Hemingway and Starkey, 2018 ). In the life course of entrepreneurs, is there an event that changes the motivation of entrepreneurship?…”

A Big Picture Approach to (C)SR: Where are We Now?

“…Indeed, spirituality and the religious roots of business ethics were the subjects of two articles published in Volume 1 of Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations (Duska, 1999;Primeaux & Mullen 1999). Religion and the family are two important sources of personal values that can be activated in times of crisis to motivate the way forward (Hemingway & Starkey, 2017), but my point relates to the debate about regulation that is a factor in the raised consciousness of SR.…”

“…Indeed, exemplary experiences, or turning points, were found to be factors underpinning responsible leadership within an MNC. The micro perspective on SR is particularly under-researched and there is much scope for understanding such psychological processes in SR and organizational misdemeanour (Hemingway & Starkey, 2017).…”

Sustainability performance in businesses and its implications for the sustainability service industry

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