At the Novak Leadership Institute, we don't just teach leadership—we study it to decode how it works. Our research bridges the gap between academic rigor and practical application, giving leaders the evidence-based insights they need grow themselves and those they lead.
Studying what works: Research-backed leadership principles
Our research investigates the leadership principles we teach—principles that have transformed organizations and developed countless successful leaders. These include approaches pioneered by David Novak during his tenure as CEO of Yum! Brands, as well as established practices from organizational psychology, strategic communication, and management science.
Through rigorous academic research, we examine why and how these leadership principles work across different contexts and cultures. Our studies—along with research from leading scholars worldwide—consistently demonstrate that recognition drives engagement, meaningful work predicts flourishing, and leadership communication shapes organizational culture.
This research directly informs our curriculum, ensuring that every course we teach is grounded in evidence. By studying what we teach and teaching what we study, we create a powerful feedback loop that continuously improves both our research and our leadership education.
Our research approach
Academic excellence meets real-world application. Our award-winning research has been published in top peer-reviewed journals, and every study offers practical leadership guidance alongside theoretical contributions. Leaders use our research to:
- Build recognition programs that drive measurable engagement
- Design flexible work policies that enhance rather than hinder performance
- Create respectful cultures where young employees thrive
- Navigate crisis communication with evidence-based strategies
- Leverage social media influencers for authentic corporate messaging
View our research publications.
Collaborative by design. We pursue interuniversity and interdisciplinary collaborations because the best insights come from different perspectives. Our research brings together experts in organizational communication, business, psychology, and strategic communication to tackle leadership challenges from every angle.
The Novak Leadership Lab. We’re building the Novak Leadership Lab to expand our research capabilities and nurture the next generation of evidence-based leaders who understand how to apply research insights in their organizations.
Join our research community
Whether you’re a leader seeking evidence-based strategies, a researcher interested in collaboration, or an organization wanting to participate in studies, we invite you to be part of our research community. Contact us.