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Goal-focused abusive leaders: The mitigating role of conscientiousness in subordinates’ counterproductive work behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Min-Kyu Joo

    (Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies, The University of Sydney Business School, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

  • Jia Yu

    (Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA)

  • Leanne Atwater

    (Department of Management and Leadership, C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA)

Abstract

When an abusive supervisor exhibits goal-focused leadership, does goal-focused leadership buffer or deteriorate the impact of abusive supervision on subordinates? Although leaders normally exhibit different leadership styles at the same time, little effort has been made to examine how different leadership styles affect subordinates. We also investigate the three-way interaction among abusive supervision, goal-focused leadership, and conscientiousness on counterproductive work behavior (CWB). With two multinational samples, our findings consistently indicate that subordinates exposed to more goal-focused leadership along with abusive supervision are significantly more likely to engage in CWB. In addition, we find a three-way interaction such that the relationship between abusive supervision and subordinates’ CWB is the strongest among subordinates who have low conscientiousness when leaders exhibit a high level of goal-focused leadership. JEL Classification: D23

Suggested Citation

  • Min-Kyu Joo & Jia Yu & Leanne Atwater, 2025. "Goal-focused abusive leaders: The mitigating role of conscientiousness in subordinates’ counterproductive work behavior," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 50(2), pages 408-430, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:50:y:2025:i:2:p:408-430
    DOI: 10.1177/03128962231211174
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel Aryee & Li-Yun Sun & Zhen Xiong George Chen & Yaw A. Debrah, 2008. "Abusive Supervision and Contextual Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Role of Work Unit Structure," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(3), pages 393-411, November.
    2. Christine Henle & Michael Gross, 2014. "What Have I Done to Deserve This? Effects of Employee Personality and Emotion on Abusive Supervision," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(3), pages 461-474, July.
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    4. Feng Wei & Steven Si, 2013. "Tit for tat? Abusive supervision and counterproductive work behaviors: The moderating effects of locus of control and perceived mobility," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 281-296, March.
    5. Aryee, Samuel & Sun, Li-Yun & Chen, Zhen Xiong George & Debrah, Yaw A., 2008. "Abusive Supervision and Contextual Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Role of Work Unit Structure," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 393-411, November.
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    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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