Article

BREAKING SELF-MISCONCEPTION DRIVEN EMOTIONAL LOOPS OF MBA STUDENTS TO HELP THEM BECOME RESPONSIBLE LEADERS🔗

ROMPIENDO LAS AUTOCONCEPCIONES ERRONEAS IMPULSORES DE LOS CICLOS EMOCIONALES DE LOS ESTUDIANTES DE MBA PARA AYUDARLES A CONVERTIRSE EN LÍDERES RESPONSABLES🔗

English Full Article Citation
 

Author(s)🔗

Malavika Sundararajan , Ramapo College of New Jersey, USA
Binod Sundararajan , Dalhousie University, Canada

https://doi.org/10.35564/jmbe.2023.0008

Abstract🔗

Responsible leadership training requires development of individuals who are both knowledgeable and emotionally mature so that they can overcome personal biases to make honest and ethical decisions that have a positive social impact within and outside the organization. Current MBA class exercises use a few trait-based surveys and basic techniques to manage one’s emotions along with leadership definitions that can be misinterpreted by students to be devoid of liable behaviors. Consequently, the problem of self-misconception persists with no change in students’ reasoning about the core problem that is causing their emotionally charged decision. Hence, most students fail to sustain their emotional management processes. To address this need to recognize and correct one’s self-misconceptions to uphold emotional maturity, our specific course of action is to address it holistically based on a preexisting Upanishadic model. The primary contribution of this paper is to bring to the forefront a practical, and useable model that can provide clear steps to refine one’s habitual orientations caused by self-misconceptions. We present the causal mechanism underlying the cognitive-emotional mechanisms wherein the core constructs are Knowing, Active and Inert qualities along six behavior influencing areas which elicit three distinct groups of emotions resulting in consequent decisions. Using a short case scenario-based exercise, we put forth steps students can take to develop responsible leadership qualities. Implications in the form of less stressful and happier workplaces are briefly discussed. A new definition of leadership is presented that helps one distinguish true leadership from notorious ones. The model and the accompanying steps help MBA students develop into fair, thoughtful, knowledgeable, compassionate, and truthful leaders, who work for the benefit of the entire society.

Keywords
MBA students, leadership, exercises, three qualities model, cognitive shifts, thought displacement skills, leader self-regulation, self-knowledge, virtuous qualities, vicious qualities

Resumen🔗

La capacitación en liderazgo responsable requiere el desarrollo de individuos que sean expertos y emocionalmente maduros para que puedan superar los sesgos personales y tomar decisiones honestas y éticas que tengan un impacto social positivo dentro y fuera de la organización. Los ejercicios de clase de MBA actuales utilizan algunas encuestas basadas en rasgos y técnicas básicas para controlar las emociones junto con definiciones de liderazgo que los estudiantes pueden malinterpretar como carentes de comportamientos responsables. En consecuencia, el problema del concepto erróneo de sí mismo persiste sin cambios en el razonamiento de los estudiantes sobre el problema central que está causando sus decisiones cargadas de emociones. De ahí que la mayoría de los estudiantes no logran sostener sus procesos de gestión emocional. Para abordar esta necesidad de reconocer y corregir los conceptos erróneos de uno mismo para mantener la madurez emocional, nuestro curso de acción específico es abordarlo de manera integral en función del modelo Upanishadic. La principal contribución de este trabajo es traer a la vanguardia un modelo práctico y utilizable que puede proporcionar pasos claros para refinar las orientaciones habituales causadas por conceptos erróneos de uno mismo. Presentamos el mecanismo causal que subyace a los mecanismos cognitivo-emocionales en los que los constructos centrales son cualidades Conocidas, Activas e Inertes a lo largo de seis áreas de influencia en el comportamiento que provocan tres grupos distintos de emociones que dan como resultado decisiones consecuentes. Usando un ejercicio breve basado en escenarios, presentamos los pasos que los estudiantes pueden tomar para desarrollar cualidades de liderazgo responsable. Las implicaciones en lugares de trabajo menos estresantes y más felices se discuten brevemente. Se presenta una nueva definición de liderazgo que ayuda a distinguir el verdadero liderazgo de los notorios. El modelo y los pasos que lo acompañan ayudan a los estudiantes de MBA a convertirse en líderes justos, reflexivos, conocedores, compasivos y veraces, que trabajan en beneficio de toda la sociedad.

Palabras clave
estudiantes de mba, liderazgo, ejercicios, modelo de las tres cualidades, cambios cognitivos, habilidades de desplazamiento del pensamiento, autorregulación del líder, autoconocimiento, cualidades virtuosas, cualidades viciosas

Received
13 September 2022

Accepted
26 January 2023

Copyright
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Citation🔗

Sundararajan, M. & Sundararajan, B. (2023). Breaking self-misconceptions driven emotional loops of mba students to help them become responsible leaders, Journal of Management and Business Education. 6(2), 142-172. https://doi.org/10.35564/jmbe.2023.0008

References🔗

Adi Shankara (1970). Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination unknown edition (unknown original year, but first edition brought to print-June 7, 1970, brought out by Vedanta Press & Bookshop and several other publishers over the years
Alfoqahaa, S. & Jones, E. (2020). Leading at the edge of chaos: historical perspectives on the qualities of leadership for cultural diversity and conflict resolution, International Journal of Public Leadership, 16(2), 217-248. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-10-2019-0065
Allio, R.J. (2008). In the crucible: Robert J. Thomas explains how leaders learn, Strategy&Leadership,36(5), 4-8.https://doi.org/10.1108/10878570810902059
Allio, R.J. (2019). Becoming a leader – first, take charge of your own learning process, Strategy & Leadership, 46(3), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/SL-02-2018-0013
Ashkanasy, N. & Daus, C. (2002). Emotion in the Workplace: The New Challenge for Managers. Academy of Management Executive. 16 (1), https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.2002.6640191
Ashkanasy, N., Humphrey, R. & Huy, Q. (2017). Integrating Emotions and Affect in Theories of Management. Academy of Management Review. 42 (2) https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2016.0474
Barney, J. (2018). Editor’s comments: Positioning a theory paper for publication. Academy of Management Review, 43: 345–348.https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2018.0112
Barrett, L.F. (2006). Solving the emotion paradox: categorization and the experience of emotion. Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 10(1), 20-46. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr1001_2
Benmira S, and Agboola M, (2021). Evolution of leadership theory, BMJ Leader 5, 3-5.https://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2020-000296
Bhartṛhari. (1965 reprinted. 1996). Nitiśatakam, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Chappell, S.F., Delbecq, A.L., & McCready, W.C. (2020). Spiritual leadership development: An exemplar protocol, Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion, 17:1, 51-68, https://doi.org/10.1080/14766086.2019.1697728
Cropanzano, R., Dasborough, M. & Weiss, H. (2017). Affective Events and the Development of Leader-Member Exchange. Academy of Management Review. 42, 233-258.
https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2014.0384
Dayanandaji (2011). The Bhagavad Gita Home Study Series, Nine Volumes, Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust
Dent, E., Higgins, M., & Wharff, D. (2005). Spirituality and leadership: An empirical review of definitions, distinctions, and embedded assumptions. The Leadership Quarterly, 16, 625-653.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.002
Emirbayer, M. & Mische, A. (1998). What Is Agency? New School for Social Research, 103 (4), 962–1023.
Fry, L. W., Vitucci, S., & Cedillo, M. (2005). Spiritual leadership and army transformation: Theory, measurement, and establishing a baseline. Leadership Quarterly, 16(5), 835-862 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.012
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R.E. & McKee, A. (2001). Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance, Harvard Business Review, December 2001.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-24203-7_6
Izard, CE. (2009). Emotion theory and research: highlights, unanswered questions, and emerging issues. Annual Review Psychology. 60:1-25 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163539
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1982). The psychology of preferences. Scientific American, 246(1), 160–173. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0182-160
Kahya, M. & Şahin, F. (2018). The effect of leader personality on follower behaviour: The mediating role of leader-member exchange, Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 39(1),14-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-08-2016-0206
Kippenberger, T. (1997). "Beware the fabled qualities of leadership", The Antidote, 2(3): 4-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000006337
Kouzes J, & Posner B, (1995). The leadership challenge: how to keep getting extraordinary things done in organisations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1995.https://doi.org/10.1097/00001416-200307000-00020
Kriger, M. P., & Seng, Y. (2005). Leadership with inner meaning: A contingency theory of leadership based on the worldviews of five religions. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(5), 771-806.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.007
Lange, D., & Pfarrer, M. D. (2017). Editors’ comments: Sense and structure: The core building blocks of an AMR article. Academy of Management Review, 42:407–416.https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2016.0225
Leavy, B. (2013). Effectiveness at the top – what makes the difference and why?, Strategy & Leadership, 41(3), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878571311323172
Miller, K.D. (2020). Discernment in Management and organizations. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 17 (5), 373-402, https://doi.org/10.1080/14766086.2020.1812425
Ovans, A. (2015). How Emotional Intelligence Became a Key Leadership Skill, Harvard Business Review, April, 28, 2015
Paramarthanandaji (2020). Teachings in the Viveka Choodamani Classes (The Crest Jewel of Discrimination by Adi Shankara). Vedanta Vidhyarthi Sangha
Paramarthanandaji (2020). Teachings of HHS. Paramarthananda of Bhartṛhari’s Nitiśatakam. Vedanta Vidhyarthi Sangha
Paramarthanandaji (1999-2021). Teachings HHS. Paramarthananda about the three qualities in The Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta Vidhyarthi Sangha
Prentice, W.C.H, (2004). Understanding Leadership, Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2004/01/understanding-leadership
Reave, L. (2005). Spiritual values and practices related to leadership effectiveness. The Leadership Quarterly. 16, 655-687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.003
Schopenhauer, A. (2017). The Basis of Morality, Jovian Press, Kindle Edition, pp: 217-218
Stogdill R.M, (1950). Leadership, membership, and organization. Psychol Bull 1950; 47:1–14. doi:10.1037/h0053857
Thatcher, S.M.B & Fisher, G. (2022). From the Editors—The Nuts and Bolts of Writing a Theory Paper: A Practical Guide to Getting Started. AMR, 47, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2021.0483
Vididtatmanandaji (2014). Drig Drishya Viveka Adhyatma Vidya Mandir, Ahmedabad, pp:176-177
Williams, M. (2007). Building genuine trust through interpersonal emotion management: A threat regulation model of trust and collaboration across boundaries. Academy of Management Review, 32, 595–621, https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2007.24351870