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Secure Base Leadership: A Positive Theory of Leadership Incorporating Safety, Exploration and Positive Action

Coombe, Duncan David
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1270505789

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Organizational Behavior.
This research proposes the notion of Secure Base Leadership through a multi-method approach incorporating two separate research studies. The research sought to first inductively explore the concept of Secure Base Leadership through a qualitative study and then to deductively test those conceptions in a quantitative study. Secure Base Leadership is a direct reference to Ainsworth’s and Bowlby’s original conceptions of Secure Base as it relates to the dual control systems of attachment and exploration as described in Attachment Theory. Secure Base Leadership is an explicitly ‘positive’ relationship based approach to leadership in that it seeks to understand the behaviors of an exemplar type of ‘leadership as relationship’. The qualitative results indicate that Secure Base Leadership has eight dimensions. However, the quantitative analysis indicates three factors underpinning these eight dimensions. The three factors correspond theoretically to the Attachment and Exploration control systems of Attachment Theory but also stress the importance of a positive style of problem solving. The three factors are referred to as the Safety, Exploration and Positive Dealing Factors and taken together represent a positive theoretical and practical approach to leadership. The results show that Secure Base Leadership predicts the outcomes of leadership effectiveness, psychological safety and follower job satisfaction (rated by followers) and leadership effectiveness (rated by manager of the leader). This research further suggests that aspects of Secure Base Leadership resonate with a broader conception of Love, especially the notion of Acceptance and Safety. This thesis makes a contribution to the literatures of Positive Organizational Scholarship, Leadership as Relationship, Attachment Theory and Love in Organizations.
Eric Neilsen, PhD (Committee Chair)
David Kolb, PhD (Committee Member)
Ronald Fry, PhD (Committee Member)
Peter Whitehouse, PhD (Committee Member)
242 p.
Organizational Behavior
Secure Base Leadership; Secure Base; Attachment Theory; Love; Safety and Exploration

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Coombe, D. D. (2010). Secure Base Leadership: A Positive Theory of Leadership Incorporating Safety, Exploration and Positive Action [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1270505789

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Coombe, Duncan. Secure Base Leadership: A Positive Theory of Leadership Incorporating Safety, Exploration and Positive Action. 2010. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1270505789.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Coombe, Duncan. "Secure Base Leadership: A Positive Theory of Leadership Incorporating Safety, Exploration and Positive Action." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1270505789

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1270505789
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.