Nurcan Ensari

Lofo

Leadership

My leadership research centers on addressing the most pressing challenges leaders face: 

  • Navigating rapid change,
  • Global instability,
  • Unexpected disruptions (e.g., pandemics, economic downturns),
  • Making decisions with incomplete or ambiguous information,
  • Crisis management.

My research explores what truly drives exceptional leadership—focusing on high-impact areas such as crisis management, effective communication, leadership self-efficacy, and the power of giving and receiving feedback to inspire growth and resilience.

A significant focus of my work has been on charismatic leadership, including experimental studies examining how charismatic leadership perceptions are formed under different conditions. Recently, my work has expanded to focus on inclusive leadership—examining how leaders can create equitable, supportive environments while addressing gender bias and religious discrimination, both in traditional and virtual workplaces. My mission is to develop practical, research-driven strategies that equip leaders to lead wit resilience, authenticity, and a deep commitment to inclusion.

Leadership

My leadership research centers on addressing the most pressing challenges leaders face: Navigating rapid change,

  • Global instability,
  • Unexpected disruptions (e.g., pandemics, economic downturns),
  • Making decisions with incomplete or ambiguous information,
  • Crisis management.

My research explores what truly drives exceptional leadership—focusing on high-impact areas such as crisis management, effective communication, leadership self-efficacy, and the power of giving and receiving feedback to inspire growth and resilience.

A significant focus of my work has been on charismatic leadership, including experimental studies examining how charismatic leadership perceptions are formed under different conditions. Recently, my work has expanded to focus on inclusive leadership—examining how leaders can create equitable, supportive environments while addressing gender bias and religious discrimination, both in traditional and virtual workplaces. My mission is to develop practical, research-driven strategies that equip leaders to lead wit resilience, authenticity, and a deep commitment to inclusion.

Selected Publications in Leadership

  • Nagpal, M. & Ensari, N. (in print). The mediating role of nonverbal behaviors in the relationship between interdependent self-construal and transformational leadership. ABAC Organization Development Journal. October 2025.
  • Ensari, N., & Riggio, R. (2023). Muslimophobia: Overcoming religious discrimination and exclusion in the workplace. In Barnes, J., Stevens, M. J., Ekelund, B. Z., Perham-Lippman (Eds.), Inclusive Leadership: Equity and Belonging in Our Communities (Building Leadership Bridges). International Leadership Association.
  • Ensari, N. (2023). Ataturk and Turkish Transformation. In Goethals, G. R., Allison, S. T., & Sorenson, G. J. (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Leadership Studies, Sage.
  • Ensari, N., Lopez, D., & Theil, D. (2020). Personality and leadership. In B. J. Carducci (Editor-in-Chief) & J. S. Mio & R. E. Riggio (Vol. Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell encyclopedia of personality and individual differences: Vol. IV. Clinical, applied, and cross-cultural research.  Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Hosboyar, M., Ensari, N., & Lopez, D. (2018). A quasi-experimental study on flexible work arrangements. Journal of Management, Marketing and Logistics, V.5-ISS.2, 153-165. DOI: 10.17261/Pressacademia.2018.846
  • Ensari, N., Lopez, P. D., & Schackelford, E. (2017). Managers’ and diversity experts’ perceptions of multiculturalism and internationalism in organizations. ABAC Organizational Development Institute Journal, 4(2), 1-25.
  • Lopez, E., & Ensari, N. (2014). The effects of leadership style, organizational outcome and gender on attributional bias toward leaders. Journal of Leadership Studies, 8(2), 19-37.
  • Boyd, M., Kim, M., Ensari, N., Yin, Z. (2014). Perceived motivational team climate in relation to task and social cohesion among male college athletes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 44, 115–123.
  • Uzkurt, C., Kumar, R., & Ensari, N. (2013). Assessing organizational readiness for innovation: An Exploratory study on organizational characteristics of innovativeness. International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, 10, 1-26.
  • Ensari, N., Riggio, R., Christian, J., Carslaw, G. (2011). Who emerges as a leader? Meta-analyses of individual differences as predictors of leadership emergence. Personality and Individual Differences, 51, 532-536.
  • Boga, I., & Ensari, N. (2009). The role of leadership style and organizational change on perceived organizational performance. The Psychologist Manager Journal, 12, 1-17.
  • Ensari, N., & Murphy, E. S. (2003). Cross-cultural variations in leadership perceptions and attribution of charisma to the leader. Organizational Behavior & Human Decision-Making Processes, 92, 52-66.
  • Ensari, N., & Murphy, E. S. (2003). Performance feedback and cross-cultural variations in nonverbal behaviors of leaders. Proceedings of The International Association of Cross-cultural Psychology, Budapest, Hungary.
  • Ensari, N. (2002). The role of leaders and consultant in fostering an international organization. In Rodney Lowman (Ed.), The Handbook of Organizational Consulting Psychology, Jossey-Bass.
  • Ensari, N. & Riggio, R. (2002). Personality and leadership emergence in leaderless group discussions: A meta-analysis. Proceedings of The International Conference of The Global Business and Technology Association: Challenges of leadership, innovation, integration and technology.
  • Nagpal, M., & Ensari, N. (2017). The impact of self-construal on non-verbal behaviors of charismatic leadership. Presentation at the Creating Healthy Organizations Conference, Irvine, CA.
  • Karabati, S., & Ensari, N. (2016). The role of culture, self-efficacy and job satisfaction on subjective well-being. Presentation accepted to the 23rd Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Nagoya, Japan.
  • Karabati, S., & Ensari, N. (2016). Job satisfaction and subjective well-being: The moderated mediational model. Poster presentation at the Annual Convention of The Society of Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego.
  • Nagpal, M., & Ensari, N. (2016). The impact of self-construal on non-verbal behaviors of charismatic leadership. Poster accepted to the 31 st Annual Convention of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Anaheim, CA.
  • Nagpal, M., & Ensari, N. (2015). The mediational role of non-verbal behaviors on the relationship between interdependent self-construal and charismatic leadership. Poster
  • Presentation at the American Psychological Society Conference, New York.
  • Schlaerth, A., & Ensari, N. (2015). Moderational role of psychological climate in the relationship between authentic leadership and constructive conflict behaviors. Poster Presentation at the American Psychological Society Conference, New York.
  • Cure, M., Finkelman, J., Ensari, N. (2014). The impact of cultural and emotional intelligence on intragroup conflict. Poster presented at the 29 th Annual Convention of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Smallidge, T. & Ensari, N. Moderational Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Job Performance. Paper presented at the International Congress of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2012.
  • Thomas, E., & Ensari, N. Affect and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Mediational Role of Engagement. Poster presented at the 27 th Annual Convention of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, San Diego, 2012.
  • Murphy, S., Ensari, N. & Boyd, M. (2001). Stress, crisis, and charismatic leadership. Poster presentation at the 13th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Society, Toronto, Canada.
  • Yancey, A., & Ensari, N. (2008). The Role of charismatic and autocratic leadership on organizational commitment. Poster presentation at the 21 st Annual Convention of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, San Francisco, CA.
  • Sholomit, S. and Ensari, N. (2008). The bright side and the dark side of charismatic leadership. Accepted poster presentation at the International Leadership Association Conference, Los Angeles, US.
  • Ensari, N., & Riggio, R. (2007). Meta-analytical review of personality and leadership emergence. The 12th European Congress of Psychology, Prague.
  • Ensari, N. & Miller, N. (2007). The application of the personalization model in diversity management. The 12th European Congress of Psychology, Prague.
  • Ensari, N., & Riggio, R. (2006). Personality and leadership emergence in leaderless group discussions: A meta-analysis. Poster presentation at the 20 th Annual Convention of The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Los Angeles, CA.