About
Hans Christoffer Aargaard Terjesen is an expert in leadership and has, in recent years, conducted extensive research on how leaders can best manage sick leave, conflict, aging, and generational dynamics in the workplace. He also has a strong academic interest in leadership development and identity leadership, sociological perspectives on leadership roles, organizational context and function, performance management, political leadership, power dynamics, and leadership history.
In the spring of 2025, Terjesen published the book Lederens 10 nøkler til god håndtering av sykemeldte (that can be translated to The Leader’s 10 Keys to Effectively Managing Employees on Sick Leave), the first international book to systematically describe how leaders can support employees with long-term and complex sick leave back to work, based on leadership theory. In the fall of 2025, he published his second book of the year, Forsvarsmekanismer – hvorfor og hvordan vi lurer oss selv og andre i det daglige (that can be translated to Defense Mechanisms – Why and How We Fool Ourselves and Others in Everyday Life).
In the fall of 2025, Terjesen serves as course coordinator and lead lecturer in strategic human resource management in the master’s program in economics and administration at the School of Business, OsloMet. He also held this role in 2024.
His commitment to research communication and academic discussions has made him an active voice in public debate. He is a sought-after speaker and an experienced facilitator of dialogue workshops. He has previously been a leadership columnist for Dagens Næringsliv, a committee chair in ISO, and a board member at the Knowledge Center for Longer Working Lives.
He has extensive experience in workplace assessments, developing and implementing action plans, and providing support in conflict resolution. In addition, he has led sick leave and leadership development projects with documented positive results.
Terjesen holds a sociology degree from the University of Oslo and a PhD from OsloMet. Since 2008, he has been a researcher at the Work Research Institute (AFI). Before that, he worked as a leader in a private healthcare company.
Field of study
Management Conflict Resolution Sickness Absence Senior policy
Research groups
Research projects
Completed research projects
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ExitAge
The objective of the project is to increase the knowledge about the oldest workers and their experiences, as well as how companies handle work exit and the change in mandatory retirement age.
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Knowledge Summary on Age-Conscious Leadership
The purpose of the knowledge summary is to map and analyze research that highlights the significance of leadership for the development and maintenance of senior and older employees.
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Spjelkavik, Øystein
;
Enehaug, Heidi
; Klethagen, Pål;
TERJESEN, Hans Christoffer Aargaard
; Howe, Emilie Isager; Fure, Silje Christine Reistad; Løvstad, Marianne; Andelic, Nada
(2023).
Workplace accommodation in return to work after mild traumatic brain injury.
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.
Vol. 74.
https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-211440
Frøyland, Kjetil
;
TERJESEN, Hans Christoffer Aargaard
(2020).
Workplace perceptions of older workers and implications for job retention.
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies.
Vol. 10.
https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.v10i2.120819
Solem, Per Erik
;
Salomon, Robert H
;
TERJESEN, Hans Christoffer Aargaard
(2020).
Does a raised mandatory retirement age influence managers' attitudes to older workers?.
Nordisk välfärdsforskning | Nordic Welfare Research.
Vol. 5.
https://doi.org/10.18261/issn.2464-4161-2020-02-05
TERJESEN, Hans Christoffer Aargaard (2018). Bevisstløs ledelse. Heen, Hanne; Salomon, Robert H (Ed.). Varme konflikter i arbeidslivet. Organisatoriske perspektiver og håndteringsmetoder. p. 184-211. Gyldendal Akademisk.
Howe, Emilie; Langlo, Knut-Petter;
TERJESEN, Hans Christoffer Aargaard
; Røe, Cecilie; Schanke, Anne-Kristine;
Søberg, Helene L.
;
Sveen, Unni
; Aas, Eline;
Enehaug, Heidi
;
Alves, Daniele Evelin
; Klethagen, Pål; Sagstad, Kjesti; Moen, Christine m; Torsteinsbrend, K; Linnestad, Anne-Margrethe; Nordenmark, Tonje Haug; Rismyhr, BS; Wangen, Grete; Lu, Juan; Ponsford, Jennie; Twamley, E; Ugelstad, Helene;
SPJELKAVIK, Øystein
; Løvstad, Marianne; Andelic, Nada
(2017).
Combined cognitive and vocational interventions after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Trials.
Vol. 18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2218-7
Terjesen, Hans Christoffer Aargaard ; Salomon, Robert H (2015). Langsiktig ledelse: Om bærekraftig aldring i arbeidslivet. ISBN: 9788202426675. 225 p. Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
Kristiansen, Svein-Tore; TERJESEN, Hans Chr. Aa (2013). Industrielt demokrati og kunnskapsorganisering: Om betingelser for medarbeiderdrevet innovasjonsarbeid i produksjonsbedrifter. Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann; Pålshaugen, Øyvind (Ed.). Hva er Innovasjon? Perspektiver i norsk innovasjonsforskning. Bind 2: Organisasjon og medvirkning - En norsk modell?. p. 114-133. Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
TERJESEN, Hans Chr. Aa (2010). Med en misjon i lasten: Når sårbarheten blir suksessens kriterium. Magma forskning og viten. Vol. 13.
