Leader’s intention to support followers’ self-worth

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of the followers’ competence, will to achieve, and self-determination on a leader’s intention to support a followers’ sense of self-worth.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental scenario study design with a sample of 316 managers, a mediated three-way moderation model was investigated that tested the extent to which a new subordinate’s competence, self-determination, and will to achieve would influence the manager’s positive expectations of them and their willingness to support this subordinate’s sense of self-worth.

Findings

The results showed that a subordinate’s competence plays a key role and that a subordinate’s will to achieve and self-determination played an additional role that was mediated by positive expectations of the leader.

Practical implications

The key findings emphasize that leaders can benefit from understanding how dyadic relationships form and are influenced by the earliest phases of the development of such relationships.

Originality/value

By taking the perspective of the leader, the paper provides empirical evidence of key determinants of the leader-follower relationship.

Citation

van Dierendonck, D. and Driehuizen, S. (2015), "Leader’s intention to support followers’ self-worth", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 102-119. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2013-0003