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Predictors of Managerial Performance: More Than Cognitive Ability

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Abstract

This study investigated the discriminant validity of cognitive ability, managerial potential, fear of negative evaluation, interaction anxiousness, and audience anxiousness as predictors of managerial performance. As hypothesized cognitive ability significantly predicted only thinking and knowledge criteria. However, managerial potential was significantly correlated with all the criteria. As predicted, fear of negative evaluation predicted thinking and knowledge criteria, interaction anxiousness, and audience anxiousness. In turn, as predicted, interaction anxiousness significantly predicted interpersonal behavior and audience anxiousness significantly predicted communication behavior. Managerial potential and fear of negative evaluation were the only two predictors that were significantly correlated with overall performance.

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Young, B.S., Arthur, W. & Finch, J. Predictors of Managerial Performance: More Than Cognitive Ability. Journal of Business and Psychology 15, 53–72 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007766818397

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