Inc.: Why Leaders Who Are Sometimes Unfair Cause More Stress Than Those Who Are Always Unfair, Backed by Science
20 Apr 2022
Oddly enough, consistency is better than inconsistency. Even where workplace fairness is concerned.
Originally found at Inc., by Jeff Haden
Compared with Rudy, Jim was definitely the worse boss. He was dictatorial. Condescending. Weirdly demanding. (For a while, all our meetings started at the :57 mark instead of on the hour.) Whenever he came our way, we sighed and thought, resignedly, "Oh, great ... "
Yet even though he was a better boss -- especially where it mattered, like fostering productivity, dealing with problems, developing employees, etc. -- whenever Rudy came our way, we stiffened and thought, "Oh, no. What now?"
Yep: Even though, had we been asked to provide a 360-review, we would have checked the box beside "incompetent jerk," we all still preferred to work for Jim.
Why?
Continue reading the original article at Inc..
Read the original research in Academy of Management Journal.
Learn more about the AOM Scholars and explore their work:
- Fadel K. Matta, University of Georgia
- Brent A. Scott, Michigan State University
- Jason A. Colquitt, University of Notre Dame
- Joel Koopman, Texas A&M University