Speaking Truth To Power: The Effect Of Candid Feedback

Leaders and those in positions of power call the shots as to how resources are allocated.  Past research have shown that leaders tend to behave selfishly, keeping more resources for themselves rather than sharing perks with their followers.

A study by Associate Professor Michael Bashshur from the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business suggests that honesty may be the best policy for ensuring that leaders look out for everyone, not just themselves.

In this podcast, he discusses this research which has been published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, and explains that candid feedback can change the behaviour of leaders, and 'like all individuals, those with power desire to see themselves as moral and are motivated to be seen as fair, generous, and less self-interested by others.'

Additional information for reference:

Speaking truth to power: The effect of candid feedback on how individuals with power allocate resources - by Burak OC, Michael R. Bashshur, Celia Moore