Leadership for future: co-creation in communities

The present chapter offers an alternative lens to examine the current state of leadership as it transcends traditional approaches toward more contemporary configurations of leadership. These emerging perspectives emphasize the process-view of leadership as something that is constructed and co-created by leaders and followers within a specific context and directed toward social change and transformation. Our view aligns with contemporary leadership theory, in particular with a community-based leadership that focuses on followers and empowerment and in fostering a sense of community to achieve shared goals. In the recent global scenario in the midst of a pandemic, the role of communities has become increasingly important. In underprivileged contexts in the Global South, the roles of families and communities (in addition to workplaces) have been instrumental. We propose to stimulate discussions on leadership that is not leader-centered but leadership within, of, and from communities. Examples from case studies focusing on how Brazilian slums organized to fight Covid-19 are included at the end of the chapter.