Social risk-taking in school-to-work transition: A panel study of sport graduates

It is typical of a student, for example, to conform to the norms of their peers to avoid the risk of humiliation for speaking their mind during a discussion. At work, such socially risky occasions contribute to a young leader's development as a mature leader. We examined whether the social risk-attitudes of sport graduates change over time on a matched-subjects sample. Our observations at school and in early-career revealed that social risk-attitude and leadership orientation change in school-to-work transition, and that the latter predicts the former at both times. Social risk-taking after school varies by employment status and gender. •Social risk-perceptions and leadership styles change in school-to-work transition.•Leadership orientation predicts social risk-taking at school and in early career.•Social risk-taking after school differs by employment status and gender.