courage at work institute of supply management march 10, 2011 courage at work institute of supply...

Courage at Work Courage at Work Institute of Supply ManagementInstitute of Supply Management March 10, 2011 March 10, 2011

Courage at Work

Institute of Supply ManagementMarch 10, 2011

Melissa Koerner, PhDWestminster College


Agenda

Why courage matters

Components of courage

The experience of courage

The range of courageous acts

Individual and social factors that influence courage

Learning to be courageousPresentation based on research by Melissa Koerner, “The experience and social context of courage at work,” under review by the Academy of Management Journal.


My Questions

1. What are the components of courage at work?

2. How do people experience at courage at work?

3. What individual characteristics are related to courageous behavior?

4. How does the social situation affect courageous acts?


“I worked in a call center with a single mom who had three children . . . This job was the sole income for her and her family . . . One day she came to me with a very pale face; [she had] caught our floor manager watching child pornography on his computer in his office. He told her that if it got out, he would fire her because her sales numbers were not up to par. She told me she couldn’t sleep at night while she tried to figure out the best thing to do. Obviously she could not lose her job, but she felt she had to say something about the situation . . . After a couple of days I saw Security come out with our floor manager—they escorted him out of the office. Then I knew she did the right thing” (r10, f, 28).

Courage at Work: An Example


Reflecting on Courageous Acts

Think about an act of courage you have experienced personally or observed at work.

Who was involved?

What happened?

What were the consequences?

Courageous Acts Courageous Acts Institute of Supply ManagementInstitute of Supply Management March 10, 2011 March 10, 2011


Components of Courage

Morally worthy goalMorally worthy goalMorally worthy goalMorally worthy goal

Intentional actionIntentional actionIntentional actionIntentional action

Perceived risk, threat or Perceived risk, threat or obstacle—and usually obstacle—and usually fearfear

Perceived risk, threat or Perceived risk, threat or obstacle—and usually obstacle—and usually fearfear

112233 Physical

PsychologicalSocialEconomic


Steven Slater: Courageous?


How Courage Happens

DeliberationDeliberation DeliberationDeliberation

TriggeTriggerr

eventevent

TriggeTriggerr

eventevent Choice Choice and actand act

Choice Choice and actand act ReflectionReflection ReflectionReflection

Defining moment

Unacceptable behaviorProblem, crisis, errorInappropriate requestUnfair treatment or decision


Types of Courageous Acts

Reactive Proactive

Where do your courageous acts fall?

Endure - - - - Respond - - - - Oppose - - Endure - - - - Respond - - - - Oppose - - - - Create- - Create

Endure - - - - Respond - - - - Oppose - - Endure - - - - Respond - - - - Oppose - - - - Create- - Create


Individual and Social Factors Influencing Courage

Individual Individual factorsfactors

Occupational, work Occupational, work group, and organization group, and organization identificationidentification

Salient personal valuesSalient personal values

Self-efficacySelf-efficacy

Individual Individual factorsfactors

Occupational, work Occupational, work group, and organization group, and organization identificationidentification

Salient personal valuesSalient personal values

Self-efficacySelf-efficacy

Social factorsSocial factors

Power and status Power and status imbalancesimbalances

Ethical, open cultureEthical, open culture

Relationship impRelationship impactact

Social factorsSocial factors

Power and status Power and status imbalancesimbalances

Ethical, open cultureEthical, open culture

Relationship impRelationship impactact


Examples of Courage

A young, newly hired administrative assistant with an auditing background discovers that a long-term, well-liked employee has been embezzling $1,000 a month from the company. Should he report the employee?

While accompanying the city inspector on an inspection of his construction firm’s housing units, the superintendent notices a large bore hole in a main structure of a beam. Should he tell the inspector, thereby incurring the wrath of his boss?

A young professional woman begins to receive sexually explicit messages from “the second most powerful man in the company.” Should she report him to the company president?


Why Should Leaders Care?

Some individuals are unlikely to behave courageously: Low identification with occupation, organization or

group Absence of salient values Low self-efficacy

Some social situations impede courage: Power/status imbalances Secretive/unethical cultures Important but fragile work relationships It’s unwise to expect people to

behave courageously in these circumstances.

Courage is a good thing, but…Courage is a good thing, but…


Courage and Supply Management Professionals

1. Identify a common situation in which supply management professionals could demonstrate courage.

To what degree are social factors that inhibit courage present in this situation?

What can be done to change the situation so that less courage is required?

2. What can purchasing professionals do to learn to be more courageous?

Social factors that inhibit courage:Power/status imbalance | Secretive, unethical culture | Poor relationship impact


Learning to Be Courageous

Start small and practice.

Speak up; express differing opinions (others will follow).

Work with courageous people.

Recognize and reward courage when you see others act courageously.


Go forth and be courageous

Encourage courage at work

courage at work institute of supply management march 10, 2011 courage at work institute of supply...

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