FOUNDATIONS AND TRENDS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON LEADERSHIP

Abstract

Scientific research in the field of leadership is developing toward the integration of classical and contemporary theoretical approaches, which expand the understanding of leadership as a complex process involving cognitive, behavioral, emotional, value-based, and communicative dimensions. Contemporary scientific paradigms emphasize leadership as a relational and context-dependent phenomenon that emerges through the interaction between leaders and followers, as well as through the dynamics of the organizational environment.
Particular attention is given to the role of leadership as a key factor in organizational transformation, the development of human potential, and the formation of an organizational culture based on trust, collaboration, and shared values. In this context, leadership is understood as a process of creating vision, fostering innovation, and supporting the adaptability of organizations to the changing conditions of the external environment.
The aim of the present paper is to analyse the theoretical and methodological foundations of scientific research in the field of leadership and to outline the contemporary trends that define its development as both a scientific and practical domain. Particular emphasis is placed on the evolution of leadership concepts—from personality-oriented models to contemporary systemic, relational, and transformational approaches that view leadership as a dynamic process emerging within the context of complex social interactions.
The paper also examines emerging interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate knowledge from psychology, sociology, organizational theory, and complexity theory, thereby establishing the foundations for a new understanding of leadership as a process of consciousness, interconnectedness, and development. In this sense, scientific research in the field of leadership contributes to the formation of new models and approaches that reflect the increasing complexity of organizational reality and the need for a new type of leadership oriented toward sustainable development, ethical responsibility, and the advancement of human potential