Abstract

Successful organizations require functional leadership. This article evaluates a new leadership development intervention, Managerial Behavioral Training (MBT), that targets concrete leadership behaviors associated with flexible, healthy, and successful work environments. Within an applied behavioral analytical framework, managers participating in MBT were trained by a leadership coach during six biweekly sessions in specific functional leadership behaviors. Sixteen managers were interviewed one year after participating in this individualized leadership intervention. Functional contextualism was used as the theoretical framework to analyze the interview transcripts, and a mind-mapping approach was used to illustrate themes. The findings show four success factors and indicate that MBT provides managers with analytical tools and training opportunities for developing functional leadership behaviors, allowing them to successfully manage organizational change. Participating managers described the scheduled time for reflection with a coach as important for adjusting dysfunctional leadership behaviors in new situations. Taking time to listen to employees’ perspectives gave managers a way to engage employees that increased productivity. Scheduling time for planning and setting clear goals for the team and for individual employees was found to be important for the employees’ motivation and productivity. Stress management, taking time for recovery, and having a meaningful private life were found to enable successful managerial decision-making. The four success factors for functional leadership are discussed and related to theories on organizational management and leadership.