Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions
This essay examines how AI-driven content curation reshapes leadership fashions through algorithmic amplification on social media platforms. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement selectively elevate certain leadership styles, such as authentic, servant, and transformational leadership, while ma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Administrative Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/202 |
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| author | Dag Øivind Madsen Kåre Slåtten |
| author_facet | Dag Øivind Madsen Kåre Slåtten |
| author_sort | Dag Øivind Madsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay examines how AI-driven content curation reshapes leadership fashions through algorithmic amplification on social media platforms. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement selectively elevate certain leadership styles, such as authentic, servant, and transformational leadership, while marginalizing others, including transactional or directive approaches. Drawing on leadership fashion theory, an extension of management fashion theory, this essay analyzes how viral content, influencer dynamics, and algorithmic prioritization collectively construct contemporary leadership ideals. It highlights the central role of leadership gurus such as Simon Sinek, Brené Brown, and Gary Vaynerchuk, and critiques the risks of oversimplification and performative authenticity in algorithmically mediated leadership discourse. Using recent empirical findings and real-world examples, the analysis shows how emotionally resonant and morally charged content gains disproportionate visibility, potentially distorting leadership development and practice. This essay concludes by discussing implications for organizations, leadership education, and research, and calls for a renewed commitment to evidence-based leadership theory and practice in the face of algorithmic influence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac3d5c9cc8794e87994c3a14ef4d644f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3387 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Administrative Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac3d5c9cc8794e87994c3a14ef4d644f2025-08-20T03:30:24ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872025-05-0115620210.3390/admsci15060202Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership FashionsDag Øivind Madsen0Kåre Slåtten1Department of Business, Marketing and Law, USN School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3511 Hønefoss, NorwayDepartment of Business, Marketing and Law, USN School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3511 Hønefoss, NorwayThis essay examines how AI-driven content curation reshapes leadership fashions through algorithmic amplification on social media platforms. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement selectively elevate certain leadership styles, such as authentic, servant, and transformational leadership, while marginalizing others, including transactional or directive approaches. Drawing on leadership fashion theory, an extension of management fashion theory, this essay analyzes how viral content, influencer dynamics, and algorithmic prioritization collectively construct contemporary leadership ideals. It highlights the central role of leadership gurus such as Simon Sinek, Brené Brown, and Gary Vaynerchuk, and critiques the risks of oversimplification and performative authenticity in algorithmically mediated leadership discourse. Using recent empirical findings and real-world examples, the analysis shows how emotionally resonant and morally charged content gains disproportionate visibility, potentially distorting leadership development and practice. This essay concludes by discussing implications for organizations, leadership education, and research, and calls for a renewed commitment to evidence-based leadership theory and practice in the face of algorithmic influence.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/202leadership fashionalgorithmic amplificationleadership gurusAI content curationsocial mediamanagement fashion theory |
| spellingShingle | Dag Øivind Madsen Kåre Slåtten Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions Administrative Sciences leadership fashion algorithmic amplification leadership gurus AI content curation social media management fashion theory |
| title | Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions |
| title_full | Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions |
| title_fullStr | Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions |
| title_short | Viral Leadership: Algorithmic Amplification and the Rise of Leadership Fashions |
| title_sort | viral leadership algorithmic amplification and the rise of leadership fashions |
| topic | leadership fashion algorithmic amplification leadership gurus AI content curation social media management fashion theory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/202 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dagøivindmadsen viralleadershipalgorithmicamplificationandtheriseofleadershipfashions AT kareslatten viralleadershipalgorithmicamplificationandtheriseofleadershipfashions |