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Phillip Thompson

Assistant Professor
Department: Management
Office:
North Business Building
632 Bogue St Rm N423
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-3510
  • Biography

    Phil’s research examines micro-organizational behavior topics including workplace curiosity, organizational citizenship behavior, perceived organizational support, listening, and mindfulness and how they, along with gender differences, influence employees’ job performance. His work has been published in leading management journals including the Academy of Management Review, the Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Harvard Business Review while receiving media attention from popular press outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine and the New York Times. He is currently on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management and Personnel Psychology. Prior to joining MSU’s Broad School, Phil was on faculty at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. Prior to entering academic, Phil worked as a manager and executive for multiple Fortune 500 companies.

  • Education
    Ph.D. Organizational Behavior 2020, Case Western Reserve University
    M.S. Industrial-Organizational Psychology 2012, Missouri State University
    M.S. Counseling Psychology 2010, McKendree University
    B.A. Communications 2026, Beloit College
  • Publications
    Article

    Roberson, Q.M., & Thompson, P.S. (In Press). Taking a Note from Music: Conceptual Sampling and the Creative Logic of Theory Development. Academy of Management Review, https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2026.0377 

    Article
    Thomas, J.T., Booth, J.E., Thompson, P.S., & Bolino, M.C. (2026). When (collective) losses loom larger than voice gains: The effect of loss framing on willingness to speak up at work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 111(9), 1211–1223 https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001372
    Article
    Thompson, P.S., Bolino, M.C., Norris, K.R.*, & Kuo, S-T*. (2024). Unconstructive curiosity killed the cat: The importance of follower political skill and constructive curiosity. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 178, 104275 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104275
    Article
    Bolino, M.C., Thompson, P.S., Norris, K.*, & Kuo, S.-T*. (2024) When curiosity goes wrong in the workplace. Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2023/11/research-when-and-why-employee-curiosity-annoys-managers
    Article
    Thompson, P.S., & Klotz, A. (2022). Led by curiosity and responding with voice: The influence of leader displays of curiosity and leader gender on follower reactions of psychological safety and voice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 172, 104170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2022.104170
    Article
    Lyddy, C.J., Good, D.J., Bolino, M.C., Thompson, P.S., & Stephens, J. (2021). The costs of mindfulness at work: the moderating role of mindfulness in surface acting, self-control depletion, and performance outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(12), 1921-1938 https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000863
    Article
    Thompson, P.S.,Bergeron, D.M., Bolino, M.C. (2020). No obligation? How gender influences the relationship between perceived organizational support and organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(11), 1338-1350 https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000481
    Article
    Thompson, P.S.& Bolino, M.C. (2018). Negative beliefs about accepting coworker help: Implications for employee attitudes, job performance, and reputation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(8), 842-866 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000300
    Article
    Lyddy, C.J., Good, D.J., Bolino, M.C., Thompson, P.S., & Stephens, J. (2021). Where mindfulness falls short. Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2021/03/where-mindfulness-falls-short
    Article
    Bolino, M.C. & Thompson, P.S. (2018). Why we don't let coworkers help us, even when we need it. Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2018/03/why-we-dont-let-coworkers-help-us-even-when-we-need-it
  • Awards
    • Western Academy of Management Ascendent Scholar Award
      2024 Early Career Award
    • Western Academy of Management Best Paper
      2022 Finalist
    • Virginia Tech Teaching Excellence Award
      2021, 2022
    • Virginia Tech Research MVP
      Top Research Award for Pamplin College of Business, 2022
    • Journal of Applied Psychology Editorial Fellowship
      2023-2026 Associate Editor Trainee