Michelle Bligh

Michelle C. Bligh is an Assistant Professor in the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University. She received her doctorate in Management and Organizational Behavior from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research interests focus on organizational culture and the role of leaders in influencing and changing corporate cultures, particularly in post-merger organizations. In addition, her research interests include charismatic leadership, interpersonal trust, and political and executive leadership.

Her work has been published in Journal of Applied Psychology, Leadership, Employee Relations, The Leadership Quarterly, Applied Psychology: An International Review, Group and Organization Management, Journal of Managerial Psychology, and The Journal of Business Ethics, and she was awarded the 2003 Sage Outstanding Paper Award for Research Methods. She serves on the editorial review board of The Leadership Quarterly and is co-editor of a 2007 special issue of Applied Psychology: An International Review on follower-centric approaches to leadership. She recently co-edited a book titled Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership: A Tribute to the Memory of James R. Meindl as part of the Leadership Horizons series.

Dr. Bligh has helped a variety of public and private sector organizations assess and improve their effectiveness in the areas of leadership development, organizational culture, and change management. Through her work at the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College, the Center for International Leadership in Buffalo, New York, and the Center for Leadership Innovation and Mentorship Building (CLIMB) at California State University San Marcos, she has worked in a number of industries, including local and state law enforcement, consulting, healthcare, and real estate. Dr. Bligh received her B.A. in Anthropology from Pomona College and her M.S. in Organizational Culture and Communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

• E-mail address michelle.bligh@cgu.edu.
• Organizational Behavior and I/O Psychology Programs at CGU
• An interview with Dr. Bligh from a recent edition of CGU's Flame Alumni Magazine

Selected Publications/Submitted Works

Carsten, M. K., & Bligh, M. C. (Forthcoming, 2008). Lead, Follow, and Get Out of the Way: Involving Employees in the Visioning Process. In Riggio, R., Chaleff, I., & Lipman-Blumen, J. (Eds.), The Art of Followership: How Great Followers Create Great Leaders and Organizations. San Francisco-Jossey-Bass.

Seyranian, V., & Bligh, M. C. (Forthcoming, 2007). Presidential Charismatic Leadership: Exploring the Rhetoric of Social Change. The Leadership Quarterly.

Pelletier, K. L., & Bligh, M. C. (In press, 2007). The Aftermath of Organizational Corruption: Employee Attributions and Emotional Reactions to Unethical Leadership. Journal of Business Ethics.

Schyns, B., & Bligh, M. C. (October, 2007). On the Romance of Leadership – In Memory of James R. Meindl. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 4.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., Justin, J. E., Pearce, C. L, & Stovall, J. (October, 2007). When the Romance is Over: Follower Perspectives of Aversive Leadership. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 4.

Bligh, M. C., & Schyns, B. (August, 2007). The Romance Lives On: Contemporary Issues Surrounding the Romance of Leadership. Leadership, 3(3).

Ferrin, D. L., Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (August, 2007). Can I Trust You to Trust Me? A Theory of Trust, Monitoring, and Cooperation in Interpersonal and Intergroup Relationships. Group and Organization Management.

Bligh, M. C., & Hess, G. D. (2007). Leading Cautiously: Alan Greenspan, Rhetorical Leadership, and Monetary Policy. The Leadership Quarterly.

Shamir, B., Pillai, R., Bligh, M. C., & Uhl-Bien, M. (Eds.). (2006). Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership: A Tribute to the Memory of James R. Meindl. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. Bligh, M. C., Pillai, R., & Uhl-Bien, M. (2006). The Social Construction of a Legacy: Summarizing and Extending Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership. In Shamir, B., Pillai, R., Bligh, M. C., & Uhl-Bien, M. (Eds.). Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership: A Tribute to the Memory of James R. Meindl.  Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. Carsten, M. R., & Bligh, M. C. (2006). Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Follower Perceptions of a Departing Leader and a Lingering Vision. In Shamir, B., Pillai, R., Bligh, M. C., & Uhl-Bien, M. (Eds.). Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership: A Tribute to the Memory of James R. Meindl.  Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. Pillai, R., Kohles, J. C., & Bligh, M. C. (2006). Through Thick and Thin? Follower Constructions of Presidential Leadership Amidst Crises, 2001 - 2005. In Shamir, B., Pillai, R., Bligh, M. C., & Uhl-Bien, M. (Eds.). Follower-Centered Perspectives on Leadership: A Tribute to the Memory of James R. Meindl.  Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.

Bligh, M. C. (2006). Surviving Post-Merger 'Culture Clash': Can Cultural Leadership Lessen the Casualties? Leadership, 4(2), 395-426.

Bligh, M. C., Pearce, C. L., & Kohles, J. C. (2006). The Importance of Self and Shared Leadership in Team Based Knowledge Work: A Meso-Level Model of Leadership Dynamics. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21(4), 296-318.

Pelletier, K. L., & Bligh, M. C. (2006). Rebounding From Corruption: Perceptions of Ethics Program Effectiveness in a Public Sector Organization. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(4), 359-374.

Bligh, M. C., & Carsten, M. K. (2005). Post-Merger Psychological Contracts: Exploring a “Multiple Foci” Conceptualization. Employee Relations, 27(5), 495-510.

Donaldson, S. I., & Bligh, M. C. (2005). Using Psychological Science to Improve the Workplace and Organizational Effectiveness: Rewarding and Lucrative Careers. In S. I. Donaldson, D. E. Berger, & K. Pezdek (Eds.), The Rise of Applied Psychology: New Frontiers & Rewarding Careers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Pillai, R. (2005). Crisis and Charisma in the California Recall Election. Leadership, 1(3), 323-352.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Meindl, J. R. (2004). Charisma Under Crisis: Presidential Leadership, Rhetoric, and Media Responses Before and After the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. The Leadership Quarterly, 15(2): 211-239.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Meindl, J. R. (2004). Charting the Language of Leadership: A Methodological Investigation of President Bush and the Crisis of 9/11. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(3): 562-574.

Bligh, M.C., & Meindl, J. R. (2004). The Cultural Ecology of Leadership: An Analysis of Popular Leadership Books. Messick, D.M., Kramer, R. (Eds.) The Psychology of Leadership: Some New Approaches. LEA Press.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Pillai, R. (2004). Political Leadership In Crisis: The Role of Charisma in the California Recall Election. Academy of Management Best Papers Proceedings.

Bligh, M. C., & Robinson, J. L. (2004). Different routes to charisma and taking the road less traveled: An analysis of Gandhi’s rhetorical leadership. Cross-Cultural Leadership and Management Studies, 1: 109-125.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Meindl, J. R. (2003). Textual Analysis of Leadership During Crisis: A Methodological Illustration of Responses to 9/11. In D. H. Nagao (Ed.), Proceedings of the Sixty-third Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (CD), ISSN 1543-8643.

Ferrin, D. L., Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2000). Trust, Monitoring, and Cooperative Behavior in Mixed-Motive Intergroup Negotiations. Academy of Management Best Papers Proceedings, CM: B1.

Klein, K., Bliese, P., Kozlowski, S., Dansereau, F., Gavin, M., Griffin, M., Hofmann, D., James, L., Yammarino, F., & Bligh, M. C. (2000). Multilevel Analytical Techniques: Commonalties, Differences, and Continuing Questions. In K. Klein & S. Kozlowski (Eds.), Multilevel Theory, Research, and Methods in Organizations: Foundations, Extensions, and New Directions, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

Light, J. M., Grigsby, J. S., and Bligh, M. C. (1996). Aging and Heterogeneity: Genetics, Social Structure, and Personality.  The Gerontologist, 36(2): 165-198.

Presentations

Schlehofer, M., Casad, B. J., Bligh, M., & Gaffney, A. (2007, May). Perceived Likeability and Competence of Female Senators: Context Matters. Presented at the 87th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association. Vancouver, BC.

Gaffney, A., Schlehofer, M., Casad, B. J., & Bligh, M. (2007, May). Pre-Existing Attitudes Influence Attributions of Women in Gender Incongruent Careers. Presented at the 87th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, BC.

Bligh, M. C., Meindl, J. R., & Hatch, M. J. (2007, March). If I Belong, Do I Believe? An Integrative Culture-Identification Framework. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Missoula, MT.

    ~Nominated for the 2007 Western Academy of Management Best Paper Award.

Bligh, M. C., & Pillai, R. (2007, March). The Contextual Role of Crisis and Uncertainty in Shaping Followers and Followership: Integrating New Ideas and Research Directions. Co-chair of symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Missoula, MT.

Pillai, R., Kohles, J. C., & Bligh, M. C. (2007, March). Follower Constructions of Leadership Amidst Crises. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Missoula, MT.

Bligh, M. C., & Carsten, M. K. (2007, March). Following in Uncertain Times: Follower Perceptions of a Departing Leader and a Lingering Vision. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Missoula, MT.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., Justin, J. E., Pearce, C. L, & Stovall, J. (2007, March). From Halo to Horns: Integrating the Romance of Leadership and the Dark Side of Leadership. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Missoula, MT.

    ~Nominated for the 2007 Western Academy of Management Best Paper Award, Missoula, MT.

Bligh, M. C., & Seyrayani, V.  (2006, August). Presidential Charismatic Leadership: Exploring the Rhetoric of Social Change from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Bush. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA.

Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2006, August). The Importance of Self- and Shared Leadership in Team Based Knowledge Work. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA.

O’Connell, W., Bligh, M. C., & Pelletier, K. (2006, May). Ethical Leadership through Ethical Scandal, Intervention and Post Intervention Periods. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Dallas, TX.

Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2006, May). Exploring Gender Role Stereotypes: The Rhetorical Leadership of Women in the U.S. Senate. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Dallas, TX.

Bligh, M. C., Schlehofer-Sutton, M. M., Casad, B. J., & Grotto, A. (2006, May). Gender Stereotypes, Political Affiliation, and Media Influences on Perceptions of Women Senators. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Dallas, TX.

Ferrin, D. L., Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2005, August). It Takes Two to Tango: An Interdependence Analysis of Trust and Cooperation Spirals. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Honolulu, HI.

Bligh, M. C., Schlehofer, M. M., Casad, B. J., & Grotto, A. R. (2005, May). Likeability and Competence of Female Senators: The Role of Media Depictions. Presented at the 17th annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, Los Angeles, CA.

Bligh, M. C. (2005, April). Examining the Leadership-Culture Paradox: 'Managing Culture' or 'The Culture of Management?' Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Las Vegas, NV.

Bligh, M. C., & Carsten, M. K. (2005, April). Impaired Vision: Executive Turnover During the Height of Vision Implementation. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Las Vegas, NV.

Bligh, M. C., & Robinson, J. L. (2005, April). Exploring Gandhi's Rhetorical Leadership. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Las Vegas, NV.

Carsten, M. K., & Bligh, M. C. (2005, April). Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Leader Departure and a Lingering Vision. Presented at the 20th annual conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Los Angeles, CA.

Grotto, A. R., Casad, B. J., Schlehofer, M. M., & Bligh, M. C. (2005, February). Stereotypes of Females, Politicians, and Female Politicians: Evidence for a Female Politician Subgroup. Presented at the 30th annual conference of the Association for Women in Psychology, Tampa, FL.

Casad, B. J., Schlehofer, M. M., Grotto, A. R., & Bligh, M. C. (2005, January). Gender Stereotypes,Political Affiliation, and Media Influences on Perceptions of Female Senators. Presented at the 6th Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Pillai, R. (2004, August). Political Leadership in Crisis: The Role of Charisma in the California Recall Election. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, New Orleans, LA.

Bligh, M. C., & Pelletier, K. (2004, August). Organizational Ethics in Theory and Practice: A Global Perspective. Showcase Symposium at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, New Orleans, LA.

Pelletier, K., & Bligh, M. C. (2004, August). Good Ethics is Good Business: Enhancing Ethics Program Effectiveness in the Public Sector. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, New Orleans, LA.

Bligh, M. C., & Robinson, J. L. (2004, June). Different Routes to Charisma and Taking the Road Less Traveled: An Analysis of Gandhi’s Rhetorical Leadership. Presented at the first annual Cross-Cultural Leadership and Management Studies Conference, Seoul, Korea.

Casad, B. J., Schlehofer-Sutton, M. M., Grotto, A. R., & Bligh, M. C. (2004, April). Subgrouping Female Politicians: Not Quite Female, Not Quite Politician. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Phoenix, AZ.

Bligh, M. C., & Carsten, M. K. (2004, April). Stuck in the Middle: Multifaceted Psychological Contracts in a Post-Merger Environment. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Academy of Management, Anchorage, AK.

Schlehofer-Sutton, M. M., Casad, B. J., Grotto, A. R., & Bligh, M. C. (2004, January). The Effects of Print Media Priming on Evaluations of a Female Senator’s Competence and Likeability. Presented at the 5th Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, Texas.

Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2003, August). Negotiating Gender Role Expectations: Rhetorical Leadership and Women in the U.S. Senate. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Seattle, Washington.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Meindl, J. R. (2003, August). Textual Analysis of Leadership During Crisis: A Methodological Illustration Of Responses To 9/11. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Seattle, Washington.

Carsten, M., & Bligh, M. C. (2003, May). Post-merger psychological contracts: Comparing organizational, managerial and subordinate dimensions. Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bligh, M. C. (2002, August). From Culture Clash to Integration: Cultural Leadership in a Post-Merger Organization. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Denver, Colorado.

Bligh, M. C., Kohles, J. C., & Meindl, J. R. (2002, August). Charisma Under Crisis: Presidential Leadership Before and After 9/11. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Denver, Colorado.

Ferrin, D.L, Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2002, April). Trust, Monitoring and Cooperation in Mixed-Motive Negotiations: A Causal Examination of Competing Theories and a Comparison across Levels. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Toronto, Ontario.

Bligh, M. C., Meindl, J. R., & Hatch, M. J. (2000, August). From Organizational Culture to Identification: Integrating Complementary Constructs. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Toronto, Ontario.

Ferrin, D. L., Bligh, M. C., & Kohles, J. C. (2000, August). Trust, Monitoring, and Cooperative Behavior in Mixed-Motive Intergroup Negotiations. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Toronto, Ontario.

Kohles, J. C., & Bligh, M. C. (2000, August). The Vision Integration Process: Leadership, Communication, and a Reconceptualization of Vision. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Toronto, Ontario.

Light, J. M., Grigsby, J. S., & Bligh, M. C. (1994, August). Why Does Heterogeneity Increase With Age? Genetic and Sociological Approaches to Personality. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Los Angeles, California.