Research Highlights New Insights Across Leadership Topics
Researchers from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)® presented several sessions at this year’s annual conference of the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology (SIOP). The conference was held April 29–May 2, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
SIOP is the premier professional association for the science and practice of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychology, which focuses on the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and in the workplace. This specialty focuses on principles of individual, group, and organizational behavior and applying this knowledge to solving problems leaders experience in the workplace.
CCL researchers presented and contributed to discussions on several topics at the conference, and 2 of the presentations were selected by the SIOP Program Committee from among top-rated proposals for inclusion in the Leadership / Leader Development Content Area Theme Track. The content area theme tracks consisted of back-to-back sessions on a particular content area and were intended as an easy way for attendees to find and attend related sessions.
Listed below are the sessions the researchers presented, along with descriptions for each:
The Past is Prologue: Studying Old Leadership Lessons Using New Behavioral Methods
CCL Presenter: Dr. Andy Loignon
Ancient and recent lessons about the importance of behavioral leadership assessment have set the stage for updated ways of assessing leadership. New behavioral simulations, AI-driven assessment of critical thinking, organic organizational data, and the use of an escape room setting all provide behavior-based insights on leadership and leadership emergence.
Bridging the Divide: How Leadership Science Can Better Inform Leadership Development
Selected by the SIOP Program Committee from among top-rated proposals for inclusion in the Leadership / Leader Development Content Area Theme Track
CCL Presenter: Dr. Andy Loignon
Leadership science has identified the traits and behaviors linked to effectiveness, but these insights are often lost before or during translation into practice. At the same time, research frequently overlooks the realities leaders face. This panel examines the systemic science–practice gap in leadership: why evidence is underutilized, where research lacks relevance, and how collaboration can bridge the divide between scholarship and LD practice.
Dynamic Structural Ambidexterity in Teams: A Test of Functional Leadership Theory
Selected by the SIOP Program Committee from among top-rated proposals for inclusion in the Leadership / Leader Development Content Area Theme Track
CCL Presenter: Dr. Andy Loignon and Contributor Dr. Diane Bergeron
Based on over 500 senior leaders completing a behavioral leadership simulation, authors examine how internal and external team connections (via conversational networks) support exploitation and exploration. Findings support key propositions of ambidexterity theories (i.e., mutual exclusivity and temporal patterns of punctuated equilibrium) while also suggesting that formal authority in the team is a strong predictor (i.e., leaders favor external exploration, while members support internal exploitation). Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Large Language Models as Methodological Partners in Organizational Research
CCL Contributors: Dr. Andy Loignon and Sirish Shrestha
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) in research design has received increased attention. This symposium highlights how LLMs can serve researchers as methodological tools capable of enhancing current practices and techniques while improving the efficiency of otherwise laborious tasks.
As a pioneer in the leadership development space with over 50 years of experience in leadership research, CCL’s presence at the SIOP conference allows us to amplify vital insights that help shape the field across leader levels, industries, and sectors. It also provides an opportunity to integrate differing approaches and perspectives, further strengthening our dedication to our mission of advancing the understanding and practice of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.
About SIOP
SIOP is the premier professional association for the science and practice of I-O psychology. While an independent organization with its own governance, SIOP also represents Division 14 of the American Psychological Association and is an organizational affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science. Learn more about SIOP.
At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.
At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.
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