Leadership as an Art: The Human Voice in Transformative Praxis

Transformative leadership adheres to a holistic view of humanity and seeks to express human potential fully. While transformative leadership theory (McCaslin, 2008) reveals the deep structures of human potential, art shows how these structures come alive. We illustrate how the aesthetic dimension of voicing can be illuminated through three interrelated dynamics: Embodied Presence, Rhythmic Flow, and Tonal Imagination. We invite leaders to explore and cultivate the aesthetic quality of their presence – through voice, attention, and care – and approach leadership as a lived art that rehumanises organisational life

Responses to welfare stigma in the Netherlands:The importance of developing a non-stigmatized identity

Increasing meritocracy has intensified negative perceptions of individuals in lower socioeconomic positions, especially welfare recipients, who are often viewed as incapable, lazy, or unmotivated. We conducted twenty-nine in-depth interviews with long-term social assistance recipients (SARs) in the Netherlands to explore their experiences with welfare stigmatisation. We used García-Lorenzo and colleagues’ (2022) typology to analyse SARs’ responses to stigmatisation. Surrounded by negative stereotypes, most participants internalised welfare stigma. Initially, many withdrew socially and engaged in harmful behaviours, but over time, their responses became less destructive. We identified four groups: individuals who are managing health, reorienting life, rebuilding life, or blaming the system. Overall, our findings suggest that social interventions should help SARs develop new, non-stigmatised identities to enhance their self-image and overall well-being. Given the widespread and negative consequences of welfare stigma, public, political, and media discourses should focus on addressing underlying societal issues rather than solely attributing problems to individuals