Office: 514
PACCAR HallEmail: bavolio(at)uw.edu
Foster School of Business
University of Washington
Box: 353226
Seattle, WA 98195-3226
Nothing happens unless first we dream." -Carl Sandburg
Bruce Avolio
- Professor of Management Mark Pigott Chair in Business Strategic Leadership
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Education
- PhD University of Akron (1981)
- MA University of Akron (1978)
- BA State University of New York (1975)
Academic Expertise
- gamification
- global business
- leadership
- organizational behavior
- organizational transformation
Current Research
- Examining how to accelerate positive forms of leadership
Positions Held
- At the University of Washington since 2008
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (2000-2003)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Professor of Management (2001-2008)
- Director, Gallup Leadership Institute (2003-2008)
- Director of Doctoral Program in Leadership (2003-2008)
- Clifton Chair in Leadership (2001-2008)
- Senior Research Scientist, State University of New York
- Co-Director of Global Center for Leadership Studies (2000-2001)
- Director of Global Center for Leadership Studies (1998-2000)
- Co-Director Eisenhower Leadership Development Project (1993-1996)
- Director of Doctoral Programs (1993-1994)
- Co-Director of the Kellogg Leadership Program (1990-1994)
- Director of Graduate Programs (1990-1993)
- Associate Director of the Center for Cognitive and Psycholinguistics Sciences (1988-1992)
Selected Publications
- “Core self-evaluation mitigates or exacerbates the self-regulation depletion effect of leader injustice: The role of leader-contingent self-esteem“Journal Article:Yuqing, S., Feng, Gao & Avolio, B.J., (in press). Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology,
- “The role of CEO accounts and perceived integrity in analysts’ forecasts“Journal Article:Skarlicki, D., Rogo, R., Avolio, B.J., Lo, K., & Codie Ann DeHaas, (in press). Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, Vol. 176,
- “Authentic leadership’s impact on follower psychological capital and performance through organizational identification and role clarity“Journal Article:Johnson, H.H., Bluhm, D., Hannah, S., Avolio, B.J., Lester, P. , (2023). Human Performance, Vol. 36(5), pp. 219-248.
- “Creating service academies to institutionalize a strategic leadership development focus“Journal Article:Avolio, B.J., & Drummey, K.C., (2023). Journal of Leadership Studies & Organizational Studies,
- “Do employees’ views matter in corporate governance? The relationship between employee approval and CEO dismissal“Journal Article:Wang, D., Shen, W., Zhu, Q., Avolio, B.J., & David A. Waldman, (2022). Strategic Management Journal, pp. 1-27.
- “Unpacking psychological ownership: How transactional and transformational leaders motivate ownership“Journal Article:Guarana, C., & Avolio, B.J., (2022). Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, Vol. 13, pp. 96-114.
- “Walking Our Evidence-Based Talk: The Case of Leadership Development in Business Schools“Journal Article:Leroy, H.L., Anisman-Razin, M., Avolio, B., Bresman, H., Bunderson, S., Burris, E., Claeys, J., Detert, J., Dragoni, L., Giessner, S., Kniffin, K., Kolditz, T., Petriglieri, G., Pettit, N., Sitkin, S. B., Van Quaquebeke, N., & Vongswasdi, P., (forthcoming). Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, Vol. 29(1), pp. 5-32.
- “Take a ‘Selfie’: Examining How Leaders Emerge from Leader Self-awareness, Self-leadership, and Self-efficacy“Journal Article:Bracht, E. M., Keng-Highberger, F. T., Avolio, B. J., & Huang, Y., (2021). Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 12,
- “Behavioral Integrity: Examining the Effects of Trust Velocity and Psychological contract breach“Journal Article:Vogelgesang, G., Crossley, C., Avolio, B.J., & Simon, T., (2021). Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 172(1), pp. 175-190.
- “Team psychological safety and conflict trajectories’ effect on individual’s team identification and satisfaction“Journal Article:Johnson, H., & Avolio, B.J., (2019). Group & Organization Management, Vol. 44(5), pp. 843-873.
- “Revisiting the development and validation of the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire: Analytical considerations“Journal Article:Avolio, B.J., Wernsing, T., & Gardner, W.L., (2018). Journal of Management, Vol. 44(2), pp. 399-411.
- “Leadership in applied psychology: Three waves of theory and research“Journal Article:Lord, R.G., Day, D.V., Zaccaro, S.J., Avolio, B.J., & Eagly, A., (2017). Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 102(3), pp. 434-451.
- “E-leadership“Journal Article:Kahai, S., Avolio, B., & Sosik, J., (2017). In G. Hertel, D. Stone, R. Johnson, & J. Passmore (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of the Internet at Work. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.,
- “Candor and transparency: Aligning your leadership constellation“Journal Article:Avolio, B.J., (2016). People & Strategy, Vol. 39(4), pp. 17-20.
- “An Integrative Process Model of Leadership: Examining Leadership Loci, Mechanisms and Event Cycles“Journal Article:Eberly, M.B., Johnson, M.D., Hernandez, M., & Avolio, B.J., (2013). American Psychologist, Vol. 68(6), pp. 427-443.
- “Leadership Models, Methods and Applications: Progress and Remaining Blind Spots“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Sosik, J.J., Berson, Y., Borman, W., Ilgen, D., Klimoski, R., (2013). The Complete Handbook of Psychology, Vol. 12: Industrial and Organizational Psychology,
- “Embedding Ethical Leadership Within and Across Organizational Levels“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Schaubroeck, J.M., Hannah, S.T., Kozlowski, S.W.J., Lord, R.G., Trevino, L.K., Peng, A.C., & Dimotakas, N., (2012). Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 55(5), pp. 1053-1078.
- “Leader Self and Means Efficacy: A Multi-Component Approach“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Hannah, S.T., Chan, A., & Walumbwa, F., (2012). Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Vol. 118, pp. 143-161.
- “The Loci and Mechanisms of Leadership: Exploring a More Comprehensive View of Leadership Theory“Journal Article:Hernandez, M., Eberly, M.B., Avolio, B.J., & Johnson, M.D., (2011). Leadership Quarterly, Vol. 22(6), pp. 1165-1185.
- “Leadership and Management Research in Africa: A Synthesis and Suggestions for Future Research“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Walumbwa, F.O., & Aryee, S., (2011). Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Vol. 84, pp. 425-439.
- “Authentic Leadership and Effects on Follower Moral Courage, Psychological Capital, and Performance“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Hannah, S.T., & Walumbwa, F.O., (2011). Business Ethics Quarterly, Vol. 21(4), pp. 555-557.
- “Mentoring Impact on Leader Efficacy Development: A Field Experiment“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Lester, P.O., Hannah, S.T., Harmes, P.D., & Lester, G., (2011). Academy of Management Learning and Education Journal, Vol. 10, pp. 402-429.
- “Leader Character, Ethos and Virtue: Individual and Collective Considerations“Journal Article:Avolio, B., & Hannah, S.T., (2011). The Leadership Quarterly, Vol. 22, pp. 989-994.
- “The Locus of Leadership“Journal Article:Avolio, B., & Hannah, S.T., (2011). The Leadership Quarterly, Vol. 22, pp. 979-983.
- “Building Moral Capacity: Toward a Holistic Development Model“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Hannah, S.T., & May, D.R., (2011). Academy of Management Review, Vol. 36, pp. 663-685.
- “Psychological Capital and Employee Performance Over Time: A Latent Growth Modeling Approach“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Peterson, S.J., Luthans, F., Walumbwa, F., & Zhang, Z., (2011). Personnel Psychology, Vol. 64(2), pp. 427-450.
- “An Investigation of the Relationships between Leader and Follower Psychological Capital, Service Climate and Job Performance“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Walumbwa, F.O., Peterson, S.J., & Hartnell, C.A., (2010). Personnel Psychology, Vol. 63, pp. 977-1003.
- “The Genetic Basis of Entrepreneurship: Effects of Gender and Parents“Journal Article:Avolio, B., Zhang, Z., Zyphur, M., Narayanan, J., Chaturvedi, S., Lichtenstein, P., & Larsson, G., (2009). Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Vol. 110, pp. 93-107.
Consulting
- Focusing on strategic leadership transformation and organization change
Honors and Awards
- International Leadership Association 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award
- Named a Fellow of the American Psychological Society (2009)
- Named a Fellow of the Academy of Management (2009)
- Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology, and Gerontological Society
- SUNY-Binghamton Award for Distinguished Scholarly Research (2000)
- Appointed to Chief of Defense Advisory Council, Singapore (2002)
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence (2001)
- Corning Innovation and Research Award (1988, 1998)
- Nominated Fellow, Five-year Kellogg Leadership Studies Project
Academic Service
- Senior Editor for the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies
- Board member, UW Historic Shellhouse and University Advancement (2018 - Present)
- Past Associate Editor, Human Resource Management Journal
- Past Board Member for the Psychology and Aging Journal
- Board Member for Academy of Management Journal, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Journal of Organizational Behavior
- Editorial Reviewer for Experimental Aging Research, Personnel Psychology, Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Gerontology, Applied Psychology: An International Review, Academy of Management Review, and Journal of Applied Social Psychology
- Special Editor for International Journal of Public Administration
- Consulting Editor: Iatrogenics Handbook, R. Morgan Canadian National Institute of Sciences
- U.S. Department of Education
- Editor, The Applied Gerontologist (1985-1986)
Courses Taught
- Over the past 5 years, I have taught 4 different courses in the MBA and PhD programs. In the MBA program I have taught Management 511 Leadership & Coaching for the “Fritzky Fellows. This is a practicum and is intended to be a leadership developmental experience that trains a highly select group of 2nd year MBAs to work with first year MBA students on their leadership development. I teach the Technology MBA Management 510 course on Leadership Development. The main focus of this course is to provide students with a developmental framework/process and evidence-based models that can help enhance their leadership development. The third course is Technology Management 549: International Business & Cultural Immersion, which immerses students in a different cultural and business context. Building into the student’s international experience we focus on examining the students’ global mindset that each brings to the cross-cultural experience (e.g., past trips included to Peru, Japan, etc.). The fourth course is Management 583: Special Topics in Organizational Behavior. This is a doctoral seminar that examines the major theories of leadership and their applications to both advancing research and in practice. Finally, I am working with Christina Fong and Fran Lo on developing BA/GENST 391: Learning Leadership in Theory & Practice, which is part of the campus-wide Husky Leadership Initiative (HLI) focusing on undergraduate leadership development.
- I teach in our Hybrid MBA program a course on Leadership and Team Development. This course focuses on following a Leadership Development Blueprint, developed here in the Center for Leadership & Strategic Thinking