I study how leaders make or break the way people experience work.
My research looks at the role leaders play in whether an organization's plans and practices actually work for the people doing the work. I teach leadership and management at Xavier University, and I work with organizations that want their leaders to do this well.
Dr. DJ Steffensen · Assistant Professor of Management, Williams College of Business · More about me
Research
Leader implementation of key business practices
Why the same initiative works in one department and falls flat in the next.
The roles that leaders play in organizational culture
How leaders' everyday choices decide whether a culture matches what the organization says it values.
The effects of inconsistent leader behaviors
What happens to employees when a leader is supportive one day and dismissive the next.
Leadership ethics and morality
Why people keep admiring leaders who deliver results while cutting ethical corners.
Teaching
I teach leadership and management to undergraduates and MBA students. My goal is for every leadership class to work like a leadership development program: students practice, get feedback, and try again.
Services
Culture assessment
A custom assessment that answers one question: is your organization what it says it is?
Executive sessions
Working sessions for leadership teams, including practical solutions for how your organization can use AI.
Leadership development
Programs that help managers lead with consistency and develop the people around them.
Interested in speaking with me?
I'd love to hear from you, whether you'd like to collaborate on a research project or talk through how I can help your organization.