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To be Participative or Laissez-Faire? Supervisors’ coping strategies to ego depletion depend on their power distance orientation

Author

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  • Wang, Yao
  • Wang, Xiao-Hua (Frank)
  • Guo, Zhiya (Alice)
  • Zhang, Shuxia (Carrie)
  • Johnson, Russell E.

Abstract

To date, studies of supervisor depletion have predominantly examined its negative effects on supervisor- and subordinate-related outcomes. However, not all supervisors necessarily respond to feeling depleted in the same way. Scenically, we suggest that supervisors with varying power distance orientations will respond to depletion differently, such that low power distance-oriented supervisors will exhibit participative leadership when depleted whereas high power distance-oriented supervisors will exhibit laissez-faire leadership when depleted. Increases in supervisors’ daily participative leadership will in turn be associated with increases in subordinates’ organizational citizenship behavior, whereas increases in supervisors’ daily laissezfaire leadership will be associated with increases in subordinates’counterproductive work behavior. We tested our predictions via an experience sampling study of supervisor-subordinate dyads who completed daily morning and afternoon surveys over a two-week period.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yao & Wang, Xiao-Hua (Frank) & Guo, Zhiya (Alice) & Zhang, Shuxia (Carrie) & Johnson, Russell E., 2025. "To be Participative or Laissez-Faire? Supervisors’ coping strategies to ego depletion depend on their power distance orientation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:194:y:2025:i:c:s0148296325001481
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115325
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clément Desgourdes & Jamila Hasnaoui & Muhammad Umar & Jesus Gonzales Feliu, 2024. "Decoding laissez-faire leadership: an in-depth study on its influence over employee autonomy and well-being at work," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 1047-1065, June.
    2. Jean-Pierre Neveu & Stevan E. Hobfoll & Jonathon Halbesleben & M Westman, 2018. "Conservation of resources in the organizational context : the reality of resources and their consequences," Post-Print hal-02472360, HAL.
    3. Lanaj, Klodiana & Johnson, Russell E. & Barnes, Christopher M., 2014. "Beginning the workday yet already depleted? Consequences of late-night smartphone use and sleep," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 11-23.
    4. Gino, Francesca & Schweitzer, Maurice E. & Mead, Nicole L. & Ariely, Dan, 2011. "Unable to resist temptation: How self-control depletion promotes unethical behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 191-203, July.
    5. Chen, Chao C. & Zhang, Ann Yan & Wang, Hui, 2014. "Enhancing the Effects of Power Sharing on Psychological Empowerment: The Roles of Management Control and Power Distance Orientation," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(1), pages 135-156, March.
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