Social-cognitive, relational, and identity-based approaches to leadership

We review the leadership literature published in this journal during the 50 years since its inception. Our focus is on three major contributions to leadership theory – social-cognitive, leader–member exchange, and social identity theories – as well as the role in advancing leadership theory of seminal theories published in this journal. During this period, the conceptualization of leadership has become more inclusive and dynamic, expanding to include both leaders and followers, and their team and organizational context. Dynamics pertain not only to the development over time in leader–member relationship, but also to within-person changes in active identities and behavioral styles that repeatedly occur. This complexity creates sensemaking challenges for all parties, as they both create and experience leadership processes.