About the Lab The Leadership and Performance Dynamics Lab (LPD Lab) is an Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology research lab at the University of Georgia, housed in the Psychology Department. I-O Psychology refers to the scientific and psychological study of the workplace. Under the direction of Dr. Brian Hoffman, we research issues related to the workplace, including leadership, performance criteria, and psychological testing and measurement. Current Research Areas Changing nature of work and workers This area of research documents changes in the way work is done and changes in workers themselves. In short: it looks at how work has, is, and will be done. Studies from the lab have used multiple methods for understanding generational differences in worker characteristics (such as what workers value) and in the nature of the work being done (e.g., shift to the knowledge economy, shift from manufacturing to service), and the implications of both sets of changes for modern organizations, management practices, and leadership strategies. Work in the lab has also worked at the influence of unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on workers, including their well-being and motivational outcomes. Selection, development, and evaluation of organizational leaders Using a cross-section of methods to measurement and evaluation, this line of research investigates traits, behaviors, and skills linked to effective leadership. The lab specializes in leadership assessment and development using assessment centers, or simulations of the leadership role, multi-source leader competency ratings (e.g., 360 feedback), and direct reports' perceptions of visionary and ethical leadership. Lab research has examined the efficacy of high fidelity leadership simulations in predicting leader's performance on-the-job, the mechanisms by which visionary leaders influence followers, and the influence of leader ethical leadership and abusive supervision on follower well-being. Lab members have worked in collaboration with Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop a leadership tool targeted to state government employees. Previous Research Areas Narcissism and Narcissistic Leadership Narcissistic leadership research is closely linked to the examination of leaders. Our research investigates the processes by which narcissists achieve leadership positions and the outcomes for individuals, organizations, and society when they do. Lab members have investigated CEO narcissism, ethical breaches by narcissists leaders, and approaches to neutralize the sometimes harmful side effects of narcissism in the workplace. Lab members have also examined narcissism cross-culturally and developed an updated measure of narcissism, the NPI-13. Criterion-development Employees are often viewed as the source of competitive advantage for organizations. Our research seeks to better understand the various ways that organizations can help and harm their organization. LPD researchers have studied the role of altruism and helpfulness at work, the role of supervisor liking on evaluations of their employees, and approaches to manage and improve employee performance. Finally, recent LPD research has begun to explore employee off duty deviant behaviors, and management responses to incidents of employee off duty deviance. Applying Concepts to Sports Settings This research applies organizational research methods to predict the productivity of National Football League Athletes. For instance, our researchers have examined the role of intelligence, college performance, and physical ability in predicting the performance of NFL players. Recently, LPD researchers have applied leadership development techniques to athletic teams, such as the UGA football team and our majorettes. Finally, LPD members Brian Hoffman and Alex LoPilato organized Symposium entitled "From Scorelines to Bottom-lines: Using Sports Data to Advance Management Research and Practice at the SIOP conference in Houston.
