What happens when a team turns to an "informal leader" instead of their boss? In this explainer video, CEIBS Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour Mai Ke reveals the hidden workplace emotion of downward jealousy—the fear leaders feel when they think a subordinate might replace them.

Professor Mai Ke breaks down his research published in the Academy of Management Journal, explaining why highly capable team members can trigger insecurity in their bosses and the surprising ways this dynamic actually reshapes leadership behavior.

Key insights explained by Professor Mai Ke:

• The Jealousy vs. Envy Distinction: Why the fear of losing influence drives leader behavior.
• The "Insecurity" Trigger: Why it’s not just popularity, but competence + influence that makes a subordinate a "threat."
• The Protect-Based Strategy: How threatened leaders counterintuitively become more supportive of other high-performers.
• Behind the Study: Data from 70 real-world teams and experiments involving 519 managers.
• Career Takeaways: What these invisible relationships mean for your influence and team dynamics.

Explore more CEIBS faculty research here

About CEIBS

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is committed to producing world-class, impactful research. The From Research to Impact series highlights faculty papers published in the FT50 list—the top academic journals used by the Financial Times to formulate their global business school rankings.