Academic research made accessible for kind leaders who want promotions, not politics.
Peer-reviewed research oftentimes gets trapped behind paywalls or buried in academic jargon. Meanwhile, kind and quiet leaders might follow advice based on outdated stereotypes rather than solid science.
Here, you'll find short summaries of valuable research that explains how power, persuasion, and politics actually work.
New to academic research? Each summary gives you the essential insights—no PhD required.
What You Get
- Plain English summaries of key findings
- Why it matters for kind leaders specifically
- How to apply it in your workplace
- Full citations with accessible links
Research Summaries
The Introvert's Forecasting Error: Why You'll Enjoy Leadership More Than You Think Zelenski et al. (2013) - Study showing introverts systematically underestimate how good extroverted professional behavior will feel
Authentic Agreeableness: Why You Probably ARE Nice if you Think You're Nice Graziano et al. (2007) - Research suggesting that collaborative leadership styles are genuine, not social performance.
Why Jerks Don't Actually Win: The Steve Jobs Fallacy Anderson et al. (2020) - 14-year study proving disagreeable behavior doesn't lead to more power due to offsetting relationship costs.
The Agreeableness Advantage: Why Faking It Hurts Performance Hülsheger et al. (2013) - Meta-analysis suggesting that surface acting (pretending to be agreeable when you're not), is related to reduced well-being.
People Probably Want To Help You Fiske (2018) - The universal model predicting that people like you are likely to be helped.
How People Really Judge Leaders Fiske et al. (2007) - The universal warmth-competence framework that explains workplace perceptions.
Last updated: June 2025