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  Cluster 6: Business, Management & Entrepreneurship

Best Journals for Leadership and Management Studies (2026)

Leadership research examines how leaders influence organisational outcomes, shape culture, motivate employees, and navigate change. From transformational and servant leadership to authentic and distributed leadership, this field is rich with theoretical diversity and practical application. In 2026, leadership research is especially relevant as organisations seek resilient, inclusive, and adaptive leadership models. Here are the best journals for leadership and management studies.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Coverage of leadership theories and styles (transformational, servant, authentic)
  • Acceptance of psychological and behavioural approaches to leadership
  • Scope for both empirical and conceptual leadership research
  • Open access for broad reach to educators and practitioners
  • Fast review for applied leadership research
  • Indexed for academic and policy audience discoverability

Recommended Journals — Cluster 6: Business, Management & Entrepreneurship

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Business and Management Sciences Journal (BMSJ)

    Business administration, management theories, organizational studies, and applied business research.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Business Administration Management Sciences Organizational Behavior Strategic Management
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  • Columbia Journal of Business and Economic Research (CJBER)

    Business, economics, human resource management, marketing, finance, and interdisciplinary management research.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Business Economics Human Resource Management Financial Management Marketing Research
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  • Columbia Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management (CJEM)

    Entrepreneurship, innovation, startup ecosystems, SME research, and venture management.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Entrepreneurship Innovation Management Small Business Venture Development
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  • Journal of Human Resource and Organizational Behavior (JHROB)

    Human resource management, employee performance, organizational behavior, leadership, and workforce development.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Human Resource Management Organizational Behavior Leadership Studies Employee Performance
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Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in the business and management field.

Current Themes in Leadership Research

Leadership research in 2026 is focused on: remote and hybrid leadership, inclusive leadership and DEI, ethical leadership, leadership in crisis situations, digital leadership, cross-cultural leadership, women in leadership, leadership development and coaching, and the relationship between leadership style and employee wellbeing. Keith Publications journals welcome research on all these contemporary themes.

Leadership Research and Organisational Outcomes

Strong leadership is consistently linked to better employee performance, lower turnover, higher job satisfaction, and greater organisational innovation. Leadership research published in respected journals directly informs training programmes, executive education, and organisational policy — making it one of the highest-impact areas of management scholarship.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your topic with the journal's scope — read the aims and scope carefully before submitting.
  2. Write a compelling abstract — it's the first thing editors and reviewers read. Make it clear, concise, and keyword-rich.
  3. Ensure strong methodology — clearly describe your research design, data collection, and analysis method.
  4. Use current and relevant citations — include recent publications (within the last 5 years) alongside seminal works.
  5. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
  6. Write a strong conclusion — summarise key findings, discuss implications, acknowledge limitations, and suggest future research.
  7. Proofread thoroughly — language errors reduce credibility. Use professional proofreading tools or services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best journals for leadership and management studies?
The best journals for leadership and management studies include the Journal of Human Resource and Organizational Behavior (JHROB) and the Business and Management Sciences Journal (BMSJ) from Keith Publications — both specifically covering leadership, management, and organisational research.
What is the difference between leadership research and management research?
Leadership research focuses on the influence, inspiration, and direction-setting aspects of guiding people, while management research is broader — covering planning, organising, controlling, and leading. Keith Publications journals cover both as interconnected fields.
Can I publish a literature review on leadership styles?
Yes. Systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews on leadership styles are accepted in Keith Publications journals. These are particularly valuable for PhD students and early-career researchers.
What research methods work best for leadership studies?
Leadership research commonly uses surveys, in-depth interviews, case studies, experimental designs, and longitudinal studies. Mixed-methods approaches are highly valued in the field.

Related Research Guides

Explore other research journal guides in the Business, Management & Entrepreneurship cluster:

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Submit your business, management, or entrepreneurship research manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

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