IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i12p4534-d375580.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Follower Dependence, Independence, or Interdependence: A Multi-Foci Framework to Unpack the Mystery of Transformational Leadership Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Lu

    (Department of Human Resources Management, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China)

  • Yonghong Liu

    (Department of Management, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA)

  • Xu Huang

    (Department of Management, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

We develop a multi-foci framework—“follower dependence,” “follower independence,” and “leader-follower interdependence”—to explain how transformational leadership influences follower performance. Follower’s personal identification with the leader, psychological empowerment, and leader-member exchange are employed as proxies for each of the three foci. Two separate studies consistently show that personal identification (denoting a “follower dependence” focus) is a more salient mechanism than the other two in explaining the transformational leadership-organizational citizenship behavior relationship. These results suggest transformational leadership is perhaps a theory of follower dependence rather than independence or interdependence. Theoretical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Lu & Yonghong Liu & Xu Huang, 2020. "Follower Dependence, Independence, or Interdependence: A Multi-Foci Framework to Unpack the Mystery of Transformational Leadership Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:12:p:4534-:d:375580
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4534/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4534/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Antonakis & Samuel Bendahan & Philippe Jacquart & Rafael Lalive, 2010. "On making causal claims : A review and recommendations," Post-Print hal-02313119, HAL.
    2. Hannes Zacher & Liane Pearce & David Rooney & Bernard McKenna, 2014. "Leaders’ Personal Wisdom and Leader–Member Exchange Quality: The Role of Individualized Consideration," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(2), pages 171-187, May.
    3. Boas Shamir & Robert J. House & Michael B. Arthur, 1993. "The Motivational Effects of Charismatic Leadership: A Self-Concept Based Theory," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 4(4), pages 577-594, November.
    4. Brown, Michael E. & Trevino, Linda K. & Harrison, David A., 2005. "Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 117-134, July.
    5. Simon Chan & Wai-ming Mak, 2012. "Benevolent leadership and follower performance: The mediating role of leader–member exchange (LMX)," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 285-301, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lord, Robert G. & Gatti, Paola & Chui, Susanna L.M., 2016. "Social-cognitive, relational, and identity-based approaches to leadership," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 119-134.
    2. Yan Ling & Michelle Hammond & Li-Qun Wei, 2022. "Ethical leadership and ambidexterity in young firms: examining the CEO-TMT Interface," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 25-48, March.
    3. Eko Yi Liao & Chun Hui, 2021. "A resource-based perspective on leader-member exchange: An updated meta-analysis," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 317-370, March.
    4. Maureen L. Ambrose & Darryl B. Rice & David M. Mayer, 2021. "Justice Climate and Workgroup Outcomes: The Role of Coworker Fair Behavior and Workgroup Structure," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 79-99, August.
    5. Liu, Haiyang & Chiang, Jack Ting-Ju & Fehr, Ryan & Xu, Minya & Wang, Siting, 2017. "How do leaders react when treated unfairly? Leader narcissism and self-interested behavior in response to unfair treatment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 88208, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Jay Mulki & Jorge Jaramillo & William Locander, 2009. "Critical Role of Leadership on Ethical Climate and Salesperson Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(2), pages 125-141, May.
    7. Abdu Ja’afaru Bambale & Faridahwati Mohd Shamsudin & Chandrakantan A/L Subramaniam, 2011. "Stimulating Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) Research For Theory Development: Exploration Of Leadership Paradigms," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 1(3 Special), pages 38-59, August.
    8. Philippe Jacquart & John Antonakis, 2015. "When does charisma matter for top-level leaders? Effect of attributional ambiguity," Post-Print hal-02276710, HAL.
    9. van Gils, S. & van Quaquebeke, N. & van Knippenberg, D.L., 2011. "Tango in the Dark: The Interplay of Leader’s and Follower’s Level of Self-Construal and its Impact on Ethical Leadership," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2011-005-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    10. Thompson, Phillip S. & Klotz, Anthony C., 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, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    11. Qiangzhen Jian & Xiuting Wang & Hisham Mohammad Al-Smadi & Aamer Waheed & Alina Badulescu & Sarminah Samad, 2022. "Proposing a Robust Model to Reduce Employees’ Turnover Intentions in an Ethical Leadership Framework: Empirical Evidence from the Healthcare Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, July.
    12. Gordon Wang & Rick D. Hackett, 2016. "Conceptualization and Measurement of Virtuous Leadership: Doing Well by Doing Good," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 321-345, August.
    13. Zhen Wang & Lu Xing & Haoying Xu & Sean T. Hannah, 2021. "Not All Followers Socially Learn from Ethical Leaders: The Roles of Followers’ Moral Identity and Leader Identification in the Ethical Leadership Process," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 449-469, May.
    14. Blom, Martin & Alvesson, Mats, 2015. "All-inclusive and all good: The hegemonic ambiguity of leadership," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 480-492.
    15. Deanne Hartog & Frank Belschak, 2012. "Work Engagement and Machiavellianism in the Ethical Leadership Process," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 35-47, April.
    16. James Avey & Tara Wernsing & Michael Palanski, 2012. "Exploring the Process of Ethical Leadership: The Mediating Role of Employee Voice and Psychological Ownership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 21-34, April.
    17. Nitin Simha Vihari & M. K. Rao, 2018. "Antecedents and Consequences of Sustainable Human Resource Management: Empirical Evidence from India," Jindal Journal of Business Research, , vol. 7(1), pages 61-85, June.
    18. John Antonakis & Giovanna d’Adda & Roberto A. Weber & Christian Zehnder, 2022. "“Just Words? Just Speeches?” On the Economic Value of Charismatic Leadership," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(9), pages 6355-6381, September.
    19. Stanley Y. B. Huang & Yu-Ming Fei & Yue-Shi Lee, 2021. "Predicting Job Burnout and Its Antecedents: Evidence from Financial Information Technology Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-10, April.
    20. Michael Palanski & Kristin Cullen & William Gentry & Chelsea Nichols, 2015. "Virtuous Leadership: Exploring the Effects of Leader Courage and Behavioral Integrity on Leader Performance and Image," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 297-310, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:12:p:4534-:d:375580. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.