1. Internal/External Focus: Leadership can be studied as an internal process within individuals, teams, and organizations, or it can be studied as an external process involving interactions with stakeholders, the environment, and society.
2. Micro/Macro Levels: Leadership can be analyzed at the micro level of individual behavior, group dynamics, and team interactions, or at the macro level of organizational structures, cultures, and systems.
3. Individual/Collective: Leadership can be seen as a property of individuals (e.g., traits, skills, behaviors), or as a collective phenomenon emerging from interactions within social systems.
4. Formal/Informal: Leadership can be examined in formal leadership positions (e.g., managers, executives), or in informal leadership roles that emerge organically based on expertise or influence.
5. Theory/Practice: Leadership studies include theoretical perspectives based on research, as well as practical applications of leadership principles in various contexts, industries, and organizations.
6. Leadership as Process/Outcome: Leadership can be studied as an ongoing process of influence and interaction, or as outcomes such as team performance, organizational effectiveness, and societal change.
7. Contextual/Universal: Leadership can be studied within specific contexts and cultures to understand how cultural norms, values, and practices shape leadership approaches, or it can be studied for universal principles applicable across different contexts.
Combining these bifocal perspectives allows for a comprehensive understanding of leadership as a complex phenomenon at multiple levels and dimensions.