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Ingratiating with Despotic Leaders to Gain Status: The Role of Power Distance Orientation and Self-enhancement Motive

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk De Clercq

    (Brock University
    Kingston University)

  • Tasneem Fatima

    (International Islamic University)

  • Sadia Jahanzeb

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell Campus))

Abstract

This study adds to business ethics research by investigating how employees’ exposure to despotic leadership might influence their peer-rated workplace status, along with a mediating role of ingratiatory behavior targeted at supervisors and a moderating role of their power distance orientation and self-enhancement motive. Multisource, three-wave data from employees and their peers in Pakistani organizations reveal that exposure to despotic leaders spurs employees’ upward ingratiatory behavior, and this behavior in turn can help them attain higher status in the organization. The mediating role of upward ingratiatory behavior also is more prominent among employees with higher levels of power distance orientation and self-enhancement motive. For business ethics scholars, this study thus pinpoints a potentially dangerous pathway—featuring employees’ deliberate efforts to impress self-centered, destructive supervisors—by which despotic leadership can generate beneficial outcomes for employees but not for the organization, as well as how this process varies due to key personal characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk De Clercq & Tasneem Fatima & Sadia Jahanzeb, 2021. "Ingratiating with Despotic Leaders to Gain Status: The Role of Power Distance Orientation and Self-enhancement Motive," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(1), pages 157-174, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:171:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04368-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04368-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Mamta Tripathi & Zuby Hasan, 2023. "Can leaders power and influence strategy enhance knowledge management in research intensive organizations: a modified TISM approach," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 4725-4758, October.
    2. Mengmeng Xu & Hongyan Jiang & Huimin Tan, 2023. "Can power predict consumers’ preferences for aesthetic products? The moderating role of locus of control," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 575-589, December.
    3. Agarwal, Upasna A & Gupta, Megha & Cooke, Fang Lee, 2022. "Knowledge hide and seek: Role of ethical leadership, self-enhancement and job-involvement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 770-781.
    4. Dirk De Clercq & Sadia Jahanzeb & Tasneem Fatima, 2022. "Abusive supervision, occupational well-being and job performance: The critical role of attention–awareness mindfulness," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 47(2), pages 273-297, May.

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