Affective Forecasts and the Introverted Leader

Literature Review: Affective Forecasts and Individual Differences. The literature surrounding the process of affective forecasting (making predictions about one’s emotions in the future) and its relationship with individual differences – cognitive, affective and personality – is explored. Sources of affective forecasting error are highlighted and studies that examine opportunities to reduce those errors are reviewed. Research Project: The role of affective forecasting in the situational preferences of introverted leaders. Three studies examine the relationship between affective forecasts and the decisions of organisational leaders. Study one examines how both the individual’s personality and the type of situation are related to the feelings that individuals have leading up to situations. Study two looks at the impact those feelings have on the decisions that leaders take regarding whether or not to engage in particular situations. Study three examines one intervention to see whether affective forecasts can be managed in a way that helps people to be more comfortable with the decisions they make. Surveys and questionnaires were administered to 50 leaders from a range of commercial and government organisations. Results demonstrated differences in the emotional responses of introverts and extroverts to upcoming introverted and extroverted situation. A link between affective forecasts and intentions to act was also found. Finally, an attempt to alter affective forecasts through the use of a narrative intervention was not successful. Service Evaluation: Evaluating the practical application of a research model for organisational interventions. A case study approach is used to see how well a research-based model aligns with a practical consultancy project. The context of the study is the debate around the researcher-practitioner divide and recommendations are offered for practitioners who wish to use research studies more effectively.