Faculty from the Center share their excitement about the transformative ability of Positive Organizational Scholarship to elevate individuals and organizations.
Immerse
Research Articles
Making pipes, using pipes: How tie initiation, reciprocity, positive emotions, and reputation create new organizational social capital
Paying it forward versus rewarding reputation: Mechanisms of generalized reciprocity
Blog
What Does Mentoring Look Like in Today’s Context?
July 31, 2014
Today’s career environment is very different than it was two decades ago. The pace of change is ever increasing. Globalization is inevitably requiring most of us to work effectively and learn from individuals who are from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, requiring well-honed communication skills. And, technology has significantly changed the way we work and the way we create and sustain relationships with others. These trends make us all novices over and over again, as we necessarily move to a new job, new organization, or new country. It is almost impossible to be an expert for very long.
So what does mentoring look like in this new context? Our review of three decades of research and our own observation and experiences clearly indicate that rather than seek out one mentor who can provide all of the guidance that is needed at a particular point in time, we all need to build a network of developers that can help us to continuously learn, innovate, work with others, and realize our goals.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
July 25, 2014
I’m always amazed when I walk into a store and read the label on a piece of clothing to see the size, and the tag simply reads “one size fits all.” I specifically remember the first time I saw one of these labels–I was young, with my mom. The piece of clothing was a Disney nightgown, and there was only one size that claimed to “fit all.” I remember looking up at my mom, wondering how this gown could possibly fit both her and me. There was no way it was going to fit her adult body and my eight-year-old body. The only way she could describe it was that there was only one size made for everyone to fit into, and it would just fit everyone differently, or realistically, some wouldn’t fit into it at all.
Videos
Gratitude at Work–Hearts, Minds, and the Bottom Line
July 28, 2014
What do we mean by gratitude in the workplace? Are there different types of gratitude? How does gratitude predict job satisfaction? Can an organization increase job satisfaction through gratitude interventions? What does the research show? Is gratitude contagious? How can we incorporate gratitude into workplace culture?
Faculty Affiliate Lea Waters takes on these questions in a TED-style talk at the Mind and Its Potential Conference.
Connect
People
Shirli Kopelman
Faculty Director of Business Practice; Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations
Do
Tools
Positive Leadership, The Game™
Positive Leadership, The Game ™ encourages structured brainstorming and engagement to help leaders discover possible paths to flourishing and high performance that exceeds expectations. Created by Robert Quinn and Gretchen Spreitzer, renowned professors at the Michigan Ross School of Business, the game organizes leaders into groups to share business problems and offer sustainable solutions that […]
Job Crafting Exercise™
The Job Crafting Exercise™ helps you make your job more engaging and fulfilling. The idea is to view your job in a new way — as a flexible set of building blocks rather than a fixed list of duties. Using this perspective, you create a visual plan for redesigning your job to better suit your values, strengths, and passions.
Events | News
Positive Links Speaker Series Session: Lead an Ethical Organization
David Mayer is an Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He conducts research, teaches, and consults in the areas of leadership and ethics. His research focuses on how leaders help create an environment that can discourage unethical behavior and promote helpful behavior. Drawing on this research, Dave works with individuals and organizations to improve their ability to lead ethically and to help improve the interpersonal dynamics of their employees. His research has been published in the top scholarly journals focusing on leadership and ethics such as the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Personnel Psychology, and he is currently an associate editor of the Academy of Management Journal. He has worked with a variety of companies on these issues such as the Ethics Resource Center, Giant Eagle, Humana, Lockheed Martin, Personnel Decisions Research Institute, P.H.I. Consulting Group, Schwan’s, and SunTrust.
Positive Links Speaker Series Session: Cultivate Hope–Found, Not Lost
Oana Branzei is Associate Professor of Strategy at the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University and Visiting Professor with the Center for Positive Organization Scholarship and the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. Oana holds a doctorate from the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. Her academic projects explore the pro-social functions and positive impact of business, from social enterprises and social change initiatives to cross-sector innovation and community eco-systems. Her first edited book was published by Emerald in 2011.
Neil Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity New York City, began his career in project management at Tridel Construction, Canada’s largest condominium developer. In September 2000, he made a radical career change by joining Habitat for Humanity Toronto; at the time as the youngest CEO of a Habitat affiliate in the world. During his time at the helm, Habitat for Humanity Toronto accelerated its building program from an average of 1 home every two years to 45 annually. The Habitat Toronto ReStore operations increased revenue by over twelve times. Neil joined Habitat NYC as its Chief Executive Officer in 2013. He can be seen regularly building with Habitat for Humanity both locally and internationally.
Positive Links Speaker Series Session: Cultivate Positive Identities
Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts is an author, professor, researcher, leadership development coach and organizational consultant. She is the Professor of Psychology, Culture and Organization Studies in Antioch University’s Ph.D. Program in Leadership and Change. She is also a core faculty affiliate of the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship. A thought leader in the areas of authenticity, identity, diversity, strengths, and value creation, Laura co-edited Exploring Positive Identities and Organizations (with Jane Dutton). Laura earned her MA and Ph.D. (Organizational Psychology) from the University of Michigan and BA (Psychology) from University of Virginia.
