More than meets the eye: Counterintuitive principles of leadership

Existing management research and practice provide a generalized recipe for organizational success, but they do not work equally well in all situations. In perpetually changing systems (e.g., most modern organizations), standard practices may even prove to be counterproductive. Inspired by and in tribute to Dr. Timothy Baldwin, we identify three leadership domains in which a counterintuitive approach is likely to be useful: (1) motivating subordinates, (2) garnering and wielding social influence, and (3) managing performance. We then provide examples of counterintuitive leadership techniques from each area. Understanding the science behind how and why these techniques work is essential to their effective use in the workplace. Finally, we outline how having a relational orientation as an important corequisite for counterintuitive leadership can yield maximum benefit for organizations and their employees.