Asymmetry revisited: what leadership of organizational change can learn from Tango Argentino

Abstract

The article improves the understanding of leadership in organizational change by drawing on the metaphor of the Tango Argentino. Based on the reasonably young research stream of Organizational Aestetics, the relationship between a leader and a follower is compared and exploited to better understand the essentials of leading and following in organizational change. The article shows the importance of a trustful, resilient connection between leader and follower to successfully and substantially design organizational change. By giving up of control, and following the follower especially the leader can gain new resources to explore new territory while the follower can prove and take on responsibility for successfully shaping a better organizational future