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
2020
Journal Article
The more you have, the more you want? Higher social class predicts a greater desire for wealth and status
Wang, Zhechen, Jetten, Jolanda and Steffens, Niklas K. (2020). The more you have, the more you want? Higher social class predicts a greater desire for wealth and status. European Journal of Social Psychology, 50 (2) ejsp.2620, 360-375. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2620
2020
Journal Article
The Value of Speaking for "Us": the Relationship Between CEOs' Use of I- and We-Referencing Language and Subsequent Organizational Performance
Fladerer, Martin P., Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K. and Frey, Dieter (2020). The Value of Speaking for "Us": the Relationship Between CEOs' Use of I- and We-Referencing Language and Subsequent Organizational Performance. Journal of Business and Psychology, 36 (2), 299-313. doi: 10.1007/s10869-019-09677-0
2020
Journal Article
Social identity mapping online
Bentley, Sarah, Greenaway, Katharine H., Haslam, S. Alexander, Cruwys, Tegan, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, Catherine and Cull, Ben (2020). Social identity mapping online. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118 (2), 213-241. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000174
2020
Journal Article
Leading us to be active: A two-wave test of relationships between identity leadership, group identification, and attendance
Stevens, Mark, Rees, Tim, Coffee, Pete, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander and Polman, Remco (2020). Leading us to be active: A two-wave test of relationships between identity leadership, group identification, and attendance. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9 (1), 128-142. doi: 10.1037/spy0000164
2020
Journal Article
Predictors of social identification in group therapy
Cruwys, Tegan, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine, Hornsey, Matthew J., McGarty, Craig and Skorich, Daniel P. (2020). Predictors of social identification in group therapy. Psychotherapy Research, 30 (3), 348-361. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2019.1587193
2020
Book Chapter
Compliance and Followership
Steffens, Niklas K. (2020). Compliance and Followership. Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19. (pp. 31-35) 1 Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP : SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/9781529751680.n4
2020
Journal Article
Leading together towards a stronger ‘us’: an experimental test of the effectiveness of the 5R Shared Leadership Program (5RS) in basketball teams
Mertens, Niels, Boen, Filip, Steffens, Niklas K., Cotterill, Stewart T., Haslam, S. Alexander and Fransen, Katrien (2020). Leading together towards a stronger ‘us’: an experimental test of the effectiveness of the 5R Shared Leadership Program (5RS) in basketball teams. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (8), 770-775. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.01.010
2019
Journal Article
Merger-specific trust cues in the development of trust in new supervisors during an organizational merger: a naturally occurring quasi-experiment
Lipponen, Jukka, Kaltiainen, Janne, van der Werff, Lisa and Steffens, Niklas K. (2019). Merger-specific trust cues in the development of trust in new supervisors during an organizational merger: a naturally occurring quasi-experiment. The Leadership Quarterly, 31 (4) 101365, 101365. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101365
2019
Journal Article
Friendships that money can buy: financial security protects health in retirement by enabling social connectedness
Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, Catherine, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S Alexander, Fong, Polly and Lam, Ben C. P. (2019). Friendships that money can buy: financial security protects health in retirement by enabling social connectedness. BMC Geriatrics, 19 (1) 319, 319. doi: 10.1186/s12877-019-1281-1
2019
Journal Article
Putting the ‘we’ into workout: the association of identity leadership with exercise class attendance and effort, and the mediating role of group identification and comfort
Steffens, Niklas K., Slade, Emma L., Stevens, Mark, Haslam, S. Alexander and Rees, Tim (2019). Putting the ‘we’ into workout: the association of identity leadership with exercise class attendance and effort, and the mediating role of group identification and comfort. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45 101544, 101544. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101544
2019
Journal Article
Making ‘us’ better: high-quality athlete leadership relates to health and burnout in professional Australian football teams
Fransen, Katrien, Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K., Mallett, Clifford J., Peters, Kim and Boen, Filip (2019). Making ‘us’ better: high-quality athlete leadership relates to health and burnout in professional Australian football teams. European Journal of Sport Science, 20 (7), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1680736
2019
Journal Article
Longitudinal evidence for the effects of social group engagement on the cognitive and mental health of Chinese retirees
Lam, Ben C P, Haslam, Catherine, Steffens, Niklas K, Yang, Jie, Haslam, S. Alexander, Cruwys, Tegan and Pachana, Nancy A (2019). Longitudinal evidence for the effects of social group engagement on the cognitive and mental health of Chinese retirees. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75 (10), 2142-2151. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbz134
2019
Journal Article
Social identification-building interventions to improve health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Steffens, Niklas K., La Rue, Crystal J., Haslam, Catherine, Walter, Zoe C., Cruwys, Tegan, Munt, Katie A., Alexander Haslam, S., Jetten, Jolanda and Tarrant, Mark (2019). Social identification-building interventions to improve health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 15 (1), 1-28. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2019.1669481
2019
Journal Article
Leaders’ creation of shared identity impacts group members’ effort and performance: Evidence from an exercise task
Stevens, Mark, Rees, Tim, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander, Coffee, Pete and Polman, Remco (2019). Leaders’ creation of shared identity impacts group members’ effort and performance: Evidence from an exercise task. PLoS One, 14 (7) e0218984, e0218984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218984
2019
Book Chapter
The importance of creating and harnessing a sense of ‘us’: social identity as the missing link between leadership and health
Haslam, S. Alexander, Steffens, Niklas K. and Peters, Kim (2019). The importance of creating and harnessing a sense of ‘us’: social identity as the missing link between leadership and health. Social scaffolding: applying the lessons of contemporary social science to health and healthcare. (pp. 302-311) edited by Richard Williams, Verity Kemp, S. Alexander Haslam, Catherine Haslam, Kamaldeep S. Bhui and Sue Bailey. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781911623069.029
2019
Journal Article
Shared social identity content is the basis for leaders’ mobilization of followers
Slater, Matthew J., Coffee, Pete, Barker, Jamie B., Haslam, S. Alexander and Steffens, Niklas K. (2019). Shared social identity content is the basis for leaders’ mobilization of followers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 43, 271-278. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.03.012
2019
Journal Article
One of us … and us … and us: evidence that leaders’ multiple identity prototypicality (LMIP) is related to their perceived effectiveness
Steffens, Niklas K., Peters, Kim, Haslam, S. Alexander and Platow, Michael J. (2019). One of us … and us … and us: evidence that leaders’ multiple identity prototypicality (LMIP) is related to their perceived effectiveness. Comprehensive Results in Social Psychology, 3 (2), 175-199. doi: 10.1080/23743603.2019.1624156
2019
Book Chapter
Inspired and appreciated by the group: the social identity approach to creativity
Haslam, S. Alexander, Adarves-Yorno, Inmaculada, Steffens, Niklas K. and Postmes, Tom (2019). Inspired and appreciated by the group: the social identity approach to creativity. The Oxford handbook of group creativity and innovation. (pp. 117-131) edited by Paul B. Paulus and Bernard A. Nijstad. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190648077.013.8
2019
Journal Article
Gender differences in how leaders determine succession potential: the role of interpersonal fit with followers
Rink, Floor, Stoker, Janka, Ryan, Michelle K., Steffens, Niklas K. and Pieterse, Anne Nederveen (2019). Gender differences in how leaders determine succession potential: the role of interpersonal fit with followers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 (MAY) 752, 752. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00752
2019
Book Chapter
Do people want more wealth and status in unequal societies?
Wang, Zhechen, Jetten, Jolanda and Steffens, Niklas K. (2019). Do people want more wealth and status in unequal societies?. The Social Psychology of Inequality. (pp. 289-303) edited by Jolanda Jetten and Kim Peters. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-28856-3_18
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Nik Steffens is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact 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
Scaling identity leadership: Pathways to the implementation of a social identity-based leadership development program
Associate 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
-
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
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
-
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
For media enquiries about Associate Professor Nik Steffens's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: