HEALING DISCOURSE IN IT MANAGEMENT: UNVEILING THE POWER OF THE “LEADER IS HEALER” METAPHOR

Nenad Blaženović; Emir Muhić; Sanel Hadžiahmetović Jurida

doi:10.35120/sciencej0302009b

Authors

Nenad Blaženović University College CEPS, Kiseljak, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emir Muhić University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Philology, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sanel Hadžiahmetović Jurida University of Tuzla, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35120/sciencej0302009b

Keywords:

leadership, IT management, conceptual metaphor theory, Leader is Healer metaphor, COVID-19

Abstract

This paper explores the “Leader is Healer” metaphor in the context of Information Technology (IT) leadership amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using conceptual metaphor theory as a framework, we investigate how the metaphor of a leader as a healer – viewing the organization as a body, crises as ailments, and leadership as a healing process – can guide IT leaders to foster resilience, well-being, and recovery in their teams. Drawing on examples from the IT industry, we analyze the potential benefits of this metaphor, such as promoting a supportive work environment, enhancing mental health, and facilitating adaptability and growth. We also discuss potential drawbacks, including the risk of oversimplification, boundary violations, overreliance on leaders, and neglect of systemic issues.
The paper suggests that the “Leader is Healer” metaphor offers a compassionate, human-centric lens for understanding and practicing leadership in the challenging landscape of the post-COVID world. Future research could explore the applicability of this metaphor in other industry contexts or compare it with other leadership metaphors.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alao, B., & Gbolagade, O. (2020). Coronavirus Pandemic and Business Disruption: The Consideration of Accounting Roles in Business Revival. International Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research, 4(5), 108-115.

Alvesson, M., & Spicer, A. (2017). The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at Work. London: IPS - Profile Books.

Bick, A., Blandin, A., & Mertens, K. (2020). Work from Home After the COVID-19 Outbreak. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Working Papers. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24149/wp2017

Gabriel, Y. (2014). The caring leader – What followers expect of their leaders and why? Leadership, 11(3), 316–334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1742715014532482

Giorgi, G., Isaia Lecca, L., Alessio, F., Libera Finstad, G., Bondanini, G., Ginevra Lulli, L., . . . Mucci, N. (2020). COVID-19-Related Mental Health Effects in the Workplace: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 7857. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217857

Kelly, R. K., & Snow, S. (2019). The Importance of Corporate Wellness Programs for Psychological Health and Productivity in the Workplace. In R. J. Burke, & A. M. Richardsen, Creating Psychologically Healthy Workplaces (pp. 411-430). Elgar Online. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788113427.00030

Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Muhić, E. (2011). Realıgnıng the Lınguıstıcs-Lıterature Interface From a Conceptual Stance. FLTAL Book of Proceedings, pp.420-427, Sarajevo DOI: https://doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2010-25-04-p420-427

Muhić, E. & Kesić, D. (2013). Anxiety in Text. Folia Linguistica et Litteraria, (7), 109-124.

Schoemaker, P., Heaton, S., & Teece, D. J. (2018). Innovation, Dynamic Capabilities, and Leadership. California Management Review, 61(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125618790246

Seltzer, J., Numerof, R.E., & Bass, B. M. (1989). Transformational Leadership: Is it a Source of more Burnout and Stress? Journal of Health and Human Resources Administration, 12(2), 174-185.

Soto-Acosta, P. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic: Shifting Digital Transformation to a High-Speed Gear. Information Systems Management, 37(4), 260-266. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10580530.2020.1814461

Worley, C. G., & Jules, C. (2020). COVID-19’s Uncomfortable Revelations About Agile and Sustainable Organizations in a VUCA World. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 56(3), 279–283. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886320936263

Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M., Gill, H., Phan, L., . . . McIntyre, R. S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277(1), 55-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001