The micro-foundations of socially responsible leadership: an exploratory study among for-profit managers
Publication Date
3-12-2026
Description
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to understand how managers in for-profit organizations frame and develop their social responsibility in their leadership roles, particularly in relation to societal grand challenges (GCs). Design/methodology/approach
Taking a life- and career-span developmental perspective, in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 for-profit managers at various stages of their careers were used to generate narratives of responsible leadership (RL) development. Findings
Business leaders tend to frame their RL in strategist mindset terms. There is evidence of psychological distance from issues of social responsibility in general and the GCs in particular. This was related to a compartmentalized sense of self, which itself developed through organizational socialization. Originality/value
This study extends our understanding of the micro-foundations of RL by clarifying a potential link between a compartmentalized or integrated sense of self and the leader’s psychological distance from the GCs.
Journal
Social Responsibility Journal
Department
Management & Organizations
Link to Published Version
https://www.emerald.com/srj/article-abstract/doi/10.1108/SRJ-02-2025-0151/1346885/The-micro-foundations-of-socially-responsible?redirectedFrom=fulltext
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-02-2025-0151
Recommended Citation
Dhar, Udayan and Intindola, Melissa. "The micro-foundations of socially responsible leadership: an exploratory study among for-profit managers." (2026) .