New UTSA study delves into what makes a great leader

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/uota-nus022516.php

Public Release: 29-Feb-2016
New UTSA study delves into what makes a great leader
Management professor's top-tier research stresses the power of positive thinking in the workplace
University of Texas at San Antonio

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Her top-tier research on leadership showed that ineffective or abusive leaders will create stressful situations for their employees by humiliating them in front of others, playing favorites or not giving their subordinates proper credit for their work.

"When you feel stressed, you feel helpless and your productivity and creativity is diminished," she said. "Many times this originates with the leader. For example, you might come to work unsure of what you're supposed to be doing because you get conflicting expectations from your direct supervisor or your boss. The solution is clear roles and communication."

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Krasikova also stressed the importance of high-quality interpersonal relationships between leaders and subordinates, with an emphasis on trust, loyalty and mutual professional respect.

"When a confident, creative leader also has good relationship with subordinates, it has even a stronger impact on subordinates' creativity," she said. "Creativity flourishes in supportive environments where leaders and subordinates have good interpersonal relationships. In such environments, subordinates will go an extra mile for a leader without expecting anything in return because they have a good relationship. They can depend on each other, because they trust each other."

However, when a leader is not confident or creative, there's a trickle-down effect and employees feel less confident in their own abilities to be creative.

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