PhD defence E.A. (Erik) Waltré

Dissertation in short:

The primary aim of this dissertation is to investigate what leaders can do to help followers perform better in adversity, such as failure, negative emotions, and perceptions of self-threat. In jobs with more adverse experiences, working risks coming at the expense of both well-being and – paradoxically – performance. In those situations, leading for performance requires leaders to help followers deal more effectively with adverse experiences, and to minimize the distress that may otherwise be evoked by them. The prevalence of adverse situations inherent to many jobs highlights the importance for leaders in those situations to help followers minimize the negative consequences of adversity. Inspired by this challenge, the aim of this treatise is to investigate the role of leadership in assisting followers exposed to such adversity. This dissertation comprises a programmatic research agenda that investigates how and when leaders may be effective in managing followers’ experiences of adversity. Across three studies, we develop insights about how and when key leadership behaviors in these situations can be effective in stimulating follower performance.