Mitchell Centre Seminar Series - Joe Labianca (University of Massachusetts at Amherst) - Affect’s Role in Organizationally-Sponsored Networking
| Dates: | 12 November 2025 |
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| Times: | 16:00 - 17:30 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | School of Social Sciences |
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| Speaker: | Giuseppe (Joe) Labianca |
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Most organizational research on networking focuses on negative emotions toward it; but some people are comfortable with networking or even find it energizing. This mixed methods study draws upon the more comprehensive circumplex model of affect to investigate how positive and negative emotions experienced when engaging in networking behavior influence micro-processes that transform initial encounters made at organizationally-sponsored networking events (e.g., internal conferences, workshops, year-end mixers) into stable workplace relationships. Sixteen emotions of four different types (positive-high arousal, positive-low arousal, negative-high arousal, and negative-low arousal) were examined in a sample of 245 professionals in a religious organization participating in a three-day off-site networking event. We found that some emotions were related to greater numbers of initial encounters being made at the event, while other emotions were related to whether individuals intended to and actually did follow up with their initial interactions within the subsequent three weeks to continue to develop their relationship. Ultimately, we hope this type of research can be used to design more effective organizationally-sponsored networking events that actually meet their goals of helping people make valuable new social connections.
Speaker
Giuseppe (Joe) Labianca
Role: Berthiaume Chaired Professor of Leadership Management
Organisation: University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
G30
Arthur Lewis Building
Manchester
