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Do followers' prototypical images of effective leaders match with actual behavioural repertoire of effective leaders?

Hou, Limei (2016) Do followers' prototypical images of effective leaders match with actual behavioural repertoire of effective leaders?

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Abstract:Purpose: The present study explores to what extent followers’ prototypical images of an effective leader match effective leaders’ actually displayed behavioral repertoire. Design/Methodology: A mixed-method design is adopted, with a combination of a qualitative method (i.e. 1491 followers’ written answers to an open question in a survey about how they describe an “effective leader”) and a more objective, quantitative method (i.e. video-based observations of 114 of these same followers’ leader behaviors during regular staff meetings). Moreover, these leaders had been categorized into “effective” (n=65) and “less effective” (n=47) one based on their effectiveness scores (effective when >7; less effective when ≤ 7). Comparisons are made between followers’ prototypical images (formulated based on their implicit leadership theories) and actual behavioral repertoire of effective leaders. Findings: The data revealed that there is no complete or accurate match between followers’ prototypical images of effective leaders and these leaders’ actual behavioral repertoire. In followers’ perceptions, the effective leaders are more relation-oriented (transformational). However effective leaders actually display more task-oriented (transactional) and change-oriented behaviors. Furthermore, an in-depth comparison analysis has been conducted between “effective” and “less effective” leaders. Compared to less effective leaders, the effective ones display more change-oriented behaviors and less counter-productive behaviors. In more details, effective leaders do not display often “providing negative feedback” but display more “vision: long term” and “vision: one’s own opinion”.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:70 social sciences in general
Programme:International Business Administration BSc (50952)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/70195
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