Developing leadership behaviours in higher education: A quasi-experimental study on the effect of experiential learning

Relying on experiential learning theory and adopting the framework of the emotional intelligence leadership styles, this research analyses the effectiveness of a leadership development programme for graduate students in promoting a change in individual behaviours. A quasi-experimental research design was implemented to analyse the improvement in the adoption of leadership behaviours over time through self and external evaluation. Participants showed a higher frequency of adoption of visionary, coaching and affiliative leadership styles in relation to the pre-test and compared to the control group. In addition, this study explores the influence of the journaling and learning plan techniques on the development of leadership behaviours. Results show that both the definition of a learning plan encompassing individual change goals and the personal reflections on the practice of leadership behaviours influence leadership development. Moreover, engaging in both learning techniques creates a synergistic effect on leadership development.