David Bradford

Research Statement

How can one develop both individual competencies and the appropriate social setting to permit more effective interpersonal interaction and learning.

Teaching Statement

Dr. Bradford's interests are in the areas of leadership, interpersonal influence, and executive teams. In all of these, he has focused on the question, "What does it take to achieve high performance?" The results have suggested that, especially in knowledge-based organizations, excellence is most likely when leaders build strong teams where the members' role is significantly expanded so that they share responsibility for the management of the unit (including making the core decisions jointly and holding each other accountable for performance). His recent work on influence has led to exploring the conditions for a "feedback rich organization" where team members, through a structured process, give each other face-to-face feedback to improve individual and team performance.

Bio

David Bradford is the Eugene O’Kelly II Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Leadership. He received his PhD in social psychology from the University of Michigan and taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before coming to Stanford in 1969.

His research interests have led to six  books, numerous articles, three training programs and a MOOC on leadership, team performance, and the influence process. He also has consulted and conducted executive programs to a variety of organizations in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector, including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Cisco Systems, Levi Strauss & Co., Roche Pharmaceutical, Raychem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

In addition, Dr. Bradford has been involved with educational innovation at the college level. He was the founder of The Organizational Behavior Teaching Society and the first editor of their journal. He received the Exemplar of Excellence in Education award from The University of Phoenix. Dr. Bradford is on the editorial board of The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, The Journal of Management Education, and The Academy of Management Learning and Education.

Academic Degrees

• PhD, University of Michigan, 1966
• BA, Oberlin College, 1960

Academic Appointments

• At Stanford University since 1969
• Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, 1966-1969

Awards and Honors

• Director of the Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power 2013-2014
• Director of the Interpersonal Dynamics for High-Performance Executives Program, 2013-2014

Teaching

Degree Courses

2016-17

FINANCE 337: Business Decision Making

This experiential course will focus on how to make a business decision correctly. The theory will focus on common behavior biases and mistakes. Students will practice making business decisions by analyzing a business case each week.

GSBGEN 337: Business Decision Making

This experiential course will focus on how to make a business decision correctly. The theory will focus on common behavior biases and mistakes. Students will practice making business decisions by analyzing a business case each week.

OB 372: High-Performance Leadership

This course asks the question: "What does it take to build high-performance?" The focus is on middle and upper-middle management in contemporary organizations that have complex tasks, exist in a rapidly changing environment, and have highly...

Executive Education & Other Non-Degree Programs

• Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power Develop a leadership style and an action plan tailored to your personal objectives that inspire innovation in your team, your company, and the world.
• Interpersonal Dynamics for High-Performance Executives Hone your interpersonal skills and transition from being a good leader to a remarkable leader in six emotionally charged, academically rigorous days.
• LGBTQ Executive Leadership Program Catapult your career with the only program from a leading business school to address LGBTQ leadership in the C-suite.

Other Teaching

Young Presidents’ Organization

In the Media

Rwanda: Kagame Receives Stanford University Students

All Africa, March 26, 2015

Insights by Stanford Business

writtenDavid L. Bradford: How Do You Manage Up in the Workplace?

October 8, 2013

The co-author of Influencing Up describes how to build a more productive relationship with the boss.

writtenLet Your Personal Style Prevail Says the 2010 Porras Award Winner

February 15, 2010

Laura Sanchez, MBA ’94, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, is honored by the Hispanic Business Students Association