This is an age-old dispute between supporters of personality and situational theories in management. On the one hand, leadership can be attributed to dynamic abilities, as they can be integrated, built up and reconfigured into competencies. The current level of charisma also depends on the state and development. On the other hand, innate potential in various aspects is of great importance, for example, the psycho-physiological strength of the individual, and this is an innate, genetically determined indicator.

Yes. The most succinct way to look at this is that if you are in a steady-state condition, you only need management. If you are in a changing environment, you need leadership. The leader must understand all the elements necessary for the change, such as the imperative for change, the goals and objectives, and must work toward gaining commitment from the team to work toward the goals, and help each team member make the goals their own personal goals. This is necessarily very dynamic.

I think that the definition of leadership should be adopted according to the situation. If we work on organizational change we should define leadership as a DC (researcher speak about dynamic and static change). The same approach should be adopted when we work on strategic management,etc.

The principle is that situation impose the appropriate definition.

Good luck for your research

Yes, leadership can be defined as a dynamic capability. Dynamic capabilities refer to the ability of an organization or individual to adapt and respond to changes in the internal and external environment. They involve the integration, reconfiguration, and deployment of resources, knowledge, and skills to effectively address new challenges and opportunities.

In the context of leadership, a dynamic capability perspective recognizes that effective leaders must possess the ability to navigate and lead in a constantly changing world. Leadership involves the capacity to anticipate and respond to shifts in the business landscape, industry trends, technological advancements, and the needs and expectations of followers.

Dynamic leadership capabilities include:

1. Vision and Strategic Orientation: Leaders with dynamic capabilities have a clear vision of the future and can formulate strategies to achieve it. They possess the ability to identify emerging trends, anticipate disruptions, and adjust their plans accordingly.

2. Learning and Adaptation: Dynamic leaders are continuous learners who actively seek new knowledge and insights. They are open to feedback, willing to challenge their assumptions, and adaptable in the face of change. They foster a culture of learning and innovation within their organizations.

3. Relationship Building and Collaboration: Effective leaders understand the importance of building strong relationships and networks. They leverage these connections to gather diverse perspectives, build alliances, and collaborate with others to achieve shared goals. They are skilled at influencing and inspiring others, fostering a sense of trust and commitment.

4. Resilience and Change Management: Dynamic leaders are resilient in the face of adversity and can lead their organizations through change. They possess the ability to manage and mitigate risks, navigate uncertainty, and mobilize resources effectively. They are agile and capable of making quick decisions in rapidly changing circumstances.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Leaders with dynamic capabilities possess high emotional intelligence. They are self-aware, empathetic, and skilled at understanding and managing their own emotions and those of others. They can build strong relationships, motivate and inspire their teams, and effectively resolve conflicts.

Overall, leadership as a dynamic capability involves the capacity to adapt, innovate, and lead effectively in a rapidly changing and complex environment. It requires continuous learning, flexibility, and the ability to mobilize resources and people to achieve strategic objectives.

Maabout Mohamed Zakaria: I fully agree on "The principle is that situation impose the appropriate definition." So, the question is: is there a situation (context or conceptual framework) that justifies defining the capability to lead as a "dynamic capability" according to the common definitions in the literature (of Teece, Eisenhardt, Helfat, etc.)? I don't think we should go about labelling everything as a DC. Wouldn't it satisfy to keep "leadership" within the reals om microfoundations of DC?

James Dobbins: I also fully agree on your statement "If you are in a changing environment, you need leadership." But still, if you apply the following definition on capabilities:

“To be capable of something is to have a generally reliable capacity to bring that thing about as a result of intended action. Capabilities fill the gap between intention and outcome, and they fill it in such a way that the outcome bears a definite resemblance to what was intended” (Dosi et al., 2000).

And use that definition to delineate a 'dynamic' capability with the criterion that DC operate to reconfigure the resource-base of the firm (either through building new resources, (re)combining resources, acquiring and divesting resources, etc etc) ... how would "leadership" fit in?

Stella Cheta-Maclean If "effective leaders must possess the ability to navigate and lead", we're actually talking about a dynamic managerial capability (the leader being the agent of the capability to navigate). Let alone the tautology in: "leaders must be able to lead".

I have not been able to find any literature that defines "leadership" or the "ability to lead" explicitly as a dynamic capability. Scholars talk of certain leadership qualities as a prerequisite for DC to be effective (i.e. a microfoundation) - I'd say in line with Vitaly Ivanov above - or "the leader(s)" as potential agents of dynamic (managerial) capabilities.

Yet: executives, business managers, and innovation managers keep stressing that leadership is a critical capability to execute innovation strategies. I haven't found any clues to frame this concept theoretically, though. Any thoughts how to resolve the dilemma?