Welcome to the inaugural episode of America’s Employee Handbook—your onboarding session to the corporate jungle that is our government. In this deep-dive episode, host Dani Sterbinsky—veteran, certified HR professional, and IO Psychology expert—explores how leadership styles shape policy and impact our daily lives. Using the U.S. government as a massive corporation called “AmeriCo,” Dani examines President Trump’s second-term approach through industrial-organizational psychology. From the authoritarian shockwave of Schedule F and its implications for federal employees to the transactional rigor of immigration enforcement and the charismatic, populist maneuvers on the international stage, this episode unpacks how these leadership tactics can drive rapid change—at a potential cost. Please tune in to discover how research-backed insights can help us understand and influence the organization we call home. Join the conversation and share your perspective on what it would take to lead AmeriCo effectively!

References:

• Awan, S. (2024). Charismatic leadership and employee engagement in the pharmaceutical sector. Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(3), 45–60.
• Barling, J., Dupré, K., & Kelloway, E. K. (2022). Leadership and turnover: The role of workplace climate. Journal of Applied Psychology, 107(1), 45–59.
• Chang, Y., & Wang, M. (2020). Transactional leadership: A double-edged sword in high-pressure environments. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 41(2), 215–230.
• Zhang, X., Liao, J., & Li, Y. (2021). The impact of authoritarian leadership on employee creativity and turnover. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 678910.
• FedScoop. (2025). Trump restores Schedule F via executive order. Retrieved from https://fedscoop.com/trump-restores-schedule-f-via-executive-order/
• Politico. (2025). Trump withdraws from Paris Climate Agreement. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/20/trump-withdraws-paris-climate-agreement-00199385