-
Can Leadership Potential be Predicted at Age 10?
New research concludes that the foundations of leadership may be laid early in life, suggesting that our cognitive abilities as children strongly influence our odds of moving up the corporate ladder as adults. Analyzing data from almost 17,000 working individuals in the UK collected in two major studies over a span of 4 decades, psychological scientists Michael Daly, Mark Egan, and Fionnuala O'Reilly of Stirling University found that high scores for cognitive abilities at age 10 dramatically improved the odds of becoming the boss by age 50.
-
A ‘Learning’ Attitude Helps Boost Job Search Success
For most jobseekers, the job hunt is no picnic -- disappointment, rejection, and desperation seem to have become hallmarks of the typical job search. It’s common to hear stories of job hunters who have submitted hundreds of applications before getting a single interview. No one will argue that looking for a new job isn’t stressful, but new research finds that the way people manage and channel this stress could have a big impact on their ultimate success.
-
Thinking of Time as Money Stifles ‘Green’ Behaviors
A study demonstrates that the way we’re paid—not just how much—can exert a disturbing influence on our willingness to recycle.
-
Psychological Scientists Address the Challenges of an Aging Workforce
Older adults are a growing proportion of the American workforce in unprecedented numbers. For the first time since 1948, American employees over age 65 outnumber teenage workers, according to a report from AARP. Yet, older workers are still beset by discriminatory hiring and negative stereotypes about their capabilities and competence. Last week, psychological scientists from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) hosted a congressional briefing in the Senate demonstrating how evidence-based strategies can help organizations and policymakers successfully manage the emerging challenges of the world’s aging workforce.
-
Customer Loyalty May Depend on the Race of a Company’s Leader
Franklin Raines was appointed CEO of Fannie Mae in 1999 -- making him the first black CEO in America to lead a Fortune 500 company. Since then, only 14 other black CEOs have assumed the top leadership role within America's most powerful companies. For years, researchers have found evidence that managers show bias against black personnel, particularly when they’re in positions that involve customer contact. But new research explores how this racial bias extends all the way to the most senior leadership roles of a company.
-
Two Hormones Predict Negotiators’ Success
New research recently published in Psychological Science demonstrates that two hormones can exert a strong influence over a bargainer’s success in a negotiation: testosterone and the stress hormone cortisol. Testosterone is often associated with aggressive behavior, so we might assume that the more testosterone the better when it comes to the bargaining table. However, driving a hard bargain is about more than maximizing your earnings; negotiators also have to worry about how their economic goals might conflict with their social ones. Being too financially aggressive in a negotiation can put a strain on the social relationship between a buyer and seller.
