Overview
Background
Nik is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Business and Organisational Psychology (CBOP) at UQ's School of Psychology. After studying and working in Germany, the UK, and Spain, he completed his PhD at the University of Exeter (UK) and joined UQ in 2012.
His research unpacks the psychology of teams and organisations: how shared identity and team processes shape leadership and followership, motivation and creativity, and health and well-being. He combines experiments, field, survey, and archival research, intervention trials, psychometric development, and systematic reviews / meta-analyses to generate informative and practical insights.
His work has been supported by industry–research partnerships with public and private organisations, Government, and the Australian Research Council (including a DECRA fellowship). With colleagues and industry collaborators, he co-developed the 5R leadership programme—recognised with the APS Workplace Excellence Award (Leadership Development)—to help develop people's leadership ability and enhance team functioning and well-being (https://tinyurl.com/adfu7xbu).
He is a co-founder of the Global Identity Leadership Development (GILD) network and serves on the editorial boards of The Leadership Quarterly and the European Journal of Social Psychology. He is co-editor (with Michelle Ryan and Floor Rink) of Organisational Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies (SAGE, 2023) (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/organisational-psychology/book269849).
Through research–practice partnerships, he offers data- and evidence-based consulting and organisational coaching (certified by the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership), helping organisations translate research into performance and wellbeing gains.
Availability
- Associate Professor Nik Steffens is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Exeter
Works
Search Professor Nik Steffens’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Book Chapter
A picture is worth a thousand words: social identity mapping as a way of visualizing and assessing social group connections
Bentley, Sarah V., Haslam, S. Alexander, Greenaway, Katherine H., Cruwys, Tegan and Steffens, Nik (2023). A picture is worth a thousand words: social identity mapping as a way of visualizing and assessing social group connections. Handbook of research methods for studying identity in and around organizations. (pp. 87-102) edited by Ingo Winkler, Stefanie Reissner and Rosalía Cascón-Pereira. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781802207972.00018
2023
Book Chapter
Charisma nach dem Ableben und das Verschmelzen von Führungsperson und Gruppe
van Dick, Rolf, Steffens, Niklas K. and Fink, Louisa (2023). Charisma nach dem Ableben und das Verschmelzen von Führungsperson und Gruppe. Handbuch Mitarbeiterführung: Wirtschaftspsychologisches Praxiswissen für Fach- und Führungskräfte. (pp. 77-85) edited by Jörg Felfe and Rolf van Dick. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-55213-7_46-1
2023
Journal Article
A longitudinal examination of the role of social identity in supporting health and well-being in retirement
Haslam, Catherine, Lam, Ben C. P., Ghafoori, Eraj, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander, Bentley, Sarah V., Cruwys, Tegan and La Rue, Crystal J. (2023). A longitudinal examination of the role of social identity in supporting health and well-being in retirement. Psychology and Aging, 38 (7), 615-626. doi: 10.1037/pag0000757
2023
Journal Article
Developing engaged and ‘teamful’ leaders: A randomized controlled trial of the 5R identity leadership program
Haslam, S. Alexander, Reutas, Jordan, Bentley, Sarah V., McMillan, Blake, Lindfield, Madison, Luong, Mischel, Peters, Kim and Steffens, Niklas K. (2023). Developing engaged and ‘teamful’ leaders: A randomized controlled trial of the 5R identity leadership program. PLoS One, 18 (5) e0286263, 1-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286263
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Where is the human in human-centered AI? Insights from developer priorities and user experiences
Bingley, William J., Curtis, Caitlin, Lockey, Steven, Bialkowski, Alina, Gillespie, Nicole, Haslam, S. Alexander, Ko, Ryan K.L., Steffens, Niklas, Wiles, Janet and Worthy, Peter (2023). Where is the human in human-centered AI? Insights from developer priorities and user experiences. Computers in Human Behavior, 141 107617, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107617
2023
Journal Article
Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership
Haslam, S. Alexander, Reicher, Stephen D., Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Gaffney, Amber M., Steffens, Niklas K., Packer, Dominic, Van Bavel, Jay J., Ntontis, Evangelos, Neville, Fergus, Vestergren, Sara, Jurstakova, Klara and Platow, Michael J. (2023). Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership. Leadership Quarterly, 34 (2) 101622, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101622
2023
Journal Article
Engaged followership and toxic science: Exploring the effect of prototypicality on willingness to follow harmful experimental instructions
Birney, Megan E., Reicher, Stephen D., Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K. and Neville, Fergus G. (2023). Engaged followership and toxic science: Exploring the effect of prototypicality on willingness to follow harmful experimental instructions. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (2), 866-882. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12603
2023
Journal Article
Unlocking the power of ‘us’: longitudinal evidence that identity leadership predicts team functioning and athlete well-being
Fransen, Katrien, Boen, Filip, Haslam, S. Alexander, McLaren, Colin D., Mertens, Niels, Steffens, Niklas K. and Bruner, Mark W. (2023). Unlocking the power of ‘us’: longitudinal evidence that identity leadership predicts team functioning and athlete well-being. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40 (24), 2768-2783. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2193005
2023
Book
Organisational Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies
Niklas K. Steffens, Floor Rink and Michelle K. Ryan eds. (2023). Organisational Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies. Thousand Oaks, CA United States: SAGE Publications.
2023
Book Chapter
Erfolgreich führen durch das Schaffen einer gemeinsamen Identität in Teams und Organisationen
van Dick, Rolf, Cordes, Berrit L., Kerschreiter, Rudolf and Steffens, Niklas K. (2023). Erfolgreich führen durch das Schaffen einer gemeinsamen Identität in Teams und Organisationen. Handbuch Mitarbeiterführung: Wirtschaftspsychologisches Praxiswissen für Fach- und Führungskräfte. (pp. 87-99) edited by Jörg Felfe and Rolf van Dick. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-68185-5_47
2023
Journal Article
Reflective and decisive supervision: the role of participative leadership and team climate in joint decision-making
Coffeng, Tessa, van Steenbergen, Elianne F., de Vries, Femke, Steffens, Niklas K. and Ellemers, Naomi (2023). Reflective and decisive supervision: the role of participative leadership and team climate in joint decision-making. Regulation and Governance, 17 (1), 290-309. doi: 10.1111/rego.12449
2023
Journal Article
The fish can rot from the heart, not just the head: Exploring the detrimental impact of transgressions by leaders at multiple levels of an organization
Maskor, Mazlan, Fladerer, Martin P., Fong, Polly, Steffens, Niklas K. and Haslam, S. Alexander (2023). The fish can rot from the heart, not just the head: Exploring the detrimental impact of transgressions by leaders at multiple levels of an organization. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (1), 431-455. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12551
2023
Journal Article
A world together: global citizen identification as a basis for prosociality in the face of COVID-19
Wang, Zhechen, Jetten, Jolanda, Steffens, Niklas K., Álvarez, Belén, Bentley, Sarah V., Salvador Casara, Bruno Gabriel, Crimston, Charlie R., Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Wibisono, Susilo, Chen, Shuting, Wang, Jiajun, Zhang, Xin and Sun, Shijin (2023). A world together: global citizen identification as a basis for prosociality in the face of COVID-19. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 26 (1) 13684302211051619, 71-95. doi: 10.1177/13684302211051619
2023
Journal Article
Innovation across cultures: connecting leadership, identification, and creative behavior in organizations
Bracht, Eva M., Monzani, Lucas, Boer, Diana, Haslam, S. Alexander, Kerschreiter, Rudolf, Lemoine, Jérémy E., Steffens, Niklas K., Akfirat, Serap Arslan, Avanzi, Lorenzo, Barghi, Bita, Dumont, Kitty, Edelmann, Charlotte M., Epitropaki, Olga, Fransen, Katrien, Giessner, Steffen, Gleibs, Ilka H., González, Roberto, Laguía González, Ana, Lipponen, Jukka, Markovits, Yannis, Molero, Fernando, Moriano, Juan A., Neves, Pedro, Orosz, Gábor, Roland-Lévy, Christine, Schuh, Sebastian C., Sekiguchi, Tomoki, Song, Lynda Jiwen, Story, Joana S. P. ... van Dick, Rolf (2023). Innovation across cultures: connecting leadership, identification, and creative behavior in organizations. Applied Psychology, 72 (1), 348-388. doi: 10.1111/apps.12381
2022
Journal Article
Developing high-reliability organisations: a social identity model
Haslam, S. Alexander, Jetten, Jolanda, Maskor, Mazlan, McMillan, Blake, Bentley, Sarah V., Steffens, Niklas K. and Johnston, Susan (2022). Developing high-reliability organisations: a social identity model. Safety Science, 153 105814, 105814. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105814
2022
Journal Article
Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress
Bentley, Sarah V., Young, Tarli, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Dare, Michael, Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Steffens, Niklas K., Wang, Zhechen and Wibisono, Susilo (2022). Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress. Frontiers in Public Health, 10 976443, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.976443
2022
Conference Publication
Mind(fulness) over matter: mechanisms of mindfulness to facilitate work functioning
Gupta, Alisha, Reina, Chris, Choi, Ellen, Gupta, Alisha, Kay, Adam Austen, Lyddy, Christopher James, Town, Sophia, Arnold, Kara Anne, Carleton, Erica, Goh, Zen, Good, Darren Jason, Hancock, Amanda J., Keller, Josh, Kudesia, Ravi S., Lange, Donald A., Li, Yiqiong, Ortynsky, Mikaila, Reina, Chris, Steffens, Niklas, Vogus, Timothy J. and Walsh, Megan Marie (2022). Mind(fulness) over matter: mechanisms of mindfulness to facilitate work functioning. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Unknown, Unknown. Briarcliff Manor, NY, United States: Academy of Management. doi: 10.5465/ambpp.2022.13546symposium
2022
Journal Article
A meta-analysis of retirement adjustment predictors
La Rue, Crystal J., Haslam, Catherine and Steffens, Niklas K. (2022). A meta-analysis of retirement adjustment predictors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 136 103723, 103723. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103723
2022
Journal Article
Reconciling identity leadership and leader identity: a dual-identity framework
Haslam, S. Alexander, Gaffney, Amber M., Hogg, Michael A., Rast, David E. and Steffens, Niklas K. (2022). Reconciling identity leadership and leader identity: a dual-identity framework. Leadership Quarterly, 33 (4) 101620, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101620
Featured
2022
Conference Publication
Necessary but not sufficient: assurance mechanisms for enhancing trust in AI-enabled job screening
Lockey, Steve, Gillespie, Nicole, Curtis, Caitlin, Bingley, William, Worthy, Peter, Haslam, Alexander, Steffens, Niklas, Bialkowski, Alina, Ko, Ryan and Wiles, Janet (2022). Necessary but not sufficient: assurance mechanisms for enhancing trust in AI-enabled job screening. 82nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Seattle, WA United States, 5-9 August 2022. Briarcliff Manor, NY United States: Academy of Management. doi: 10.5465/ambpp.2022.10638abstract
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Nik Steffens is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
From Privilege to Autocracy: The Hidden Costs of Inequality in Resource Distribution on Leadership Behaviors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Social Identity in Leadership Coaching
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
-
Doctor Philosophy
Social identity processes affecting retirement from sport
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Catherine Haslam, Professor Alex Haslam
Completed supervision
-
2025
Master Philosophy
Leadership in Group Exercise
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding what it means to be 'us': Collective identity content and clarity.
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Master Philosophy
What Does it Mean to Follow? Exploring Theories, Definitions, and Measures of Followership
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
How leaders fall: Exploring the process of leadership destabilization
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Identity leadership in action: An ethnographic approach to identify leadership behaviours in a professional football team
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam, Professor Cliff Mallett
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Scaling identity leadership: Pathways to the implementation of a social identity-based leadership development program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
From Intent to Impact: Spotlighting the Understudied Role of Employee Inclusivity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stacey Parker, Professor Tyler Okimoto
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Social Connectedness and Retirement Adjustment: The Contribution of Social Participation and Social Group Memberships
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Catherine Haslam
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
An Examination of Players' Shared Leadership in the Australian Men's Professional Football League
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne, Professor Cliff Mallett
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Who Aspires to Have More? The Impacts of Social Class and Economic Inequality on People's Desire for Wealth and Status
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten
-
2017
Master Philosophy
A Social Identity Perspective on the Management of Confidential Information in Organisational Contexts
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam
Media
Enquiries
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