sean carr

People born to higher social class can make good impressions, be confident and end up in leadership. But they’re also geared to self-interest rather than collaboration. Research examines ties between childhood and current social class, mobility and entitlement; what this may mean for opportunity equality; and how it can be detrimental for firms.

Darden experts say thoughts on the new normal and the future of work.

A study in basketball, team culture, effectiveness and star power: Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan had vastly different styles in leading their teams to victory, both on the court and off. Darden Professor Sean Martin discusses what we can learn from these all-star athletes and what sports have to do with organizational behavior.

Darden Ideas to Action offers words of wisdom from six experts for graduates (and anyone else) on how real people with a real sense of purpose can make the workplace more productive, responsible and, well, happy.

Football is typically a major source of revenue for university athletics departments — so when game attendance shrinks, money’s left on the table. In this case in point, Professors Sean Martin and Jim Detert discuss ideas UVA explored to energize the fan base, as well as tenets of any strategic turnaround.

Valuable: employees who can connect with diverse people to improve relationships, facilitate information flow and communication, increase coordination and reduce conflict. Research shows that “social class transitioners,” people who move between socioeconomic classes, can bring a special skillset to the workforce.

A method in the March Madness: Coach Tony Bennett has built the UVA men’s basketball program on “five pillars.” There may be something to this foundation: With a 29-3 record, the team earned a No. 1 seed for the 2018–19 season. Here, Darden professors elaborate on the pillars and why they work for high-functioning teams on and off the court.

Effective leadership is essential to progress in both business and society. But what is leadership really, what influences leadership effectiveness and how can the relevant skills be developed? Professor Sean Martin introduces and discusses key concepts to the big idea.

Professor Sean Martin takes a look at the UVA men’s basketball NCAA Tournament championship and the leadership and organizational behavior lessons on display for a team that suffered the greatest upset in the history of the tournament just 1 year prior.

Confident people are seen as competent people. And people of higher social class tend to have more confidence than others — yet perceptions of their abilities tend to exceed their actual performance. Darden Professor Peter Belmi studies cycles of inequality and here explains what the phenomenon means for businesses and what to do to stop it.