Genes and Workplace

Studies conducted recently have shown that DAT 1 which is a dopamine transporter gene can have both negative and positive effects on leadership in any workplace. The people who succeeded in conducting that research were most likely to engage themselves in adolescent mild rule- breaking behavior that is normally associated positively with leadership. Typically, such mild rule- breaking behavior can include actions like skipping classes. However, be aware that that kind of behavior is not a very serious deviant behavior when compared to shooting. Let’s now have a look at how genes can influence leadership in workplace.

Genes and Workplace

Research conducted recently has shown that the right genes in your body can assist you to become the firm’s next CEO or president. Don’t you think that that is indeed great? However, the same genes also have got the potential of hindering your leadership path. This is according to the research conducted by Kansas State University in the department of psychology.

Wendong Li who is an assistant professor in department of psychological sciences has discovered mixed blessing’s for the workers who hold different workplace leadership positions i.e. from an informal group leader to the formal leader of a CEO. Their research focused on dopamine transporter gene DAT1 that has got the potential of influencing leadership and which is essential for reward as well as motivation systems in human beings.

The gene is usually taken by many as a mixed blessing since it has got both negative and positive effects on leadership. Wendoing believes that this gene really depends on different environmental factors in order to determine if it’s really a positive or a negative.

On the positive side of this gene, the studies found out that those individuals who had the 10- repeat allele in dopamine transporter were more likely to engage themselves in adolescent mild rule- breaking behavior. This kind of behavior is often associated with leadership. The assistant professor believes that such mild rule- breaking behavior can include actions like shooting.

Mild rule- breaking is normally positively correlated with the chance for a person to become a leader in his or her adulthood stage. The assistant professor believes that such kinds of behaviors can offer you with a merit since it has got the power of allowing adolescents to easily explore boundaries and thus can be able to learn something new.

On the negative part of such behaviors, the studies found that individuals who’ve got the dopamine transporter gene happened to score low on proactive personality. Basically, scoring low on proactive personality can make a person experience positive changes at work. These individuals were less likely to regulate their personal behaviors so that they can hassle free make positive changes. Li believes that it can be very hard for a person to be in a position to make positive changes since it involves mobilizing different resources in order to overcome obstacles and difficulties so that the changes can happen.

In conclusion, it is ideal that managers stop assuming that changing one aspect in the work environment can be beneficial to all the workers.