Leadership Bingo: Baudrillard’s double refusal and a future for followership

Purpose: This paper investigates Jean Baudrillard’s “Double Refusal,” and probes what happens in the space between leadership and followership. The paper tracks the trajectory from leadership bingo to followership bingo as a strategy to mitigate the double refusal.

Design/methodology/approach: This is a theoretical paper, and presented in an essay format.

Findings: It is important to assess the consequences of the Baudrillian “Double Refusal” – the refusal to lead and the refusal to be led – and the consequences of this double refusal for the language and behaviour of leaders and followers.

Research limitations/implications: This is a reflexive essay. A provocations piece.

Practical implications: A consciousness of the social semiotics of leadership failure and the benefits of a follower-centric organizational culture.

Originality/value: I confirm that the application of Jean Baudrillard theory of the double refusal has benefits to leadership theory. This is a rare and promising intervention.