Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T17:43:55.361Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Authentic Leadership, Traditionality, and Interactional Justice in the Chinese Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2015

Fangjun Li
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
Kuo Frank Yu
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
Jixia Yang
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
Zhenjiang Qi
Affiliation:
Zheijiang University, China
Jeanne Ho-ying Fu
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
李方君
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
余国辉
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
杨霁霞
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China
戚振江
Affiliation:
Zheijiang University, China
符可莹
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong, China

Abstract

We examine the effects of authentic leadership on subordinates in the Chinese context. Drawing on attribution processes of self-disclosure, we propose that authentic leaders engaging in self-disclosure practices cultivate subordinates’ positive feelings that their leaders like and trust them. We further explain how and why authentic leadership particularly influences highly traditional Chinese subordinates. We propose that Chinese traditionality strengthens the positive effects of authentic leadership on subordinates’ perceptions that their leader practices interactional justice, which in turn positively relates to their in-role performance, creativity, and organizational citizenship behaviour. In Study 1, we surveyed 199 employees in 47 work units from nine high-technology organizations in China. The results support the hypothesized relationships. In Study 2, we surveyed 170 employees in 46 work units from various organizations in China. The results show that authentic leadership effects remain unchanged after controlling for the effects of transformational leadership. We discuss the implications for leadership effectiveness in the Chinese context.

摘要

摘要

我们探讨在中国环境中真实型领导力对下属的影响。 基于自我表露的归因理论,我们认为真实型领导的自我表露行为会促使下属觉得领导信任和喜欢自己。我们解释了真实型领导力如何影响传统性高的下属,以及为何真实型领导力对较传统的下属尤其有影响力。我们认为传统性会增强真实型领导力对下属感知到的领导交互公平感的正面影响,进而促进员工的本职绩效、创造力和组织公民行为。在研究一中,我们调查了九个中国高科技企业中的47个团队里的199个员工。研究结果支持我们所假设的关系。在研究二中,我们调查了在多个中国企业中的46个团队里的170个员工。结果显示,即使控制了变革型领导力的影响,真实型领导力的效应依然存在。我们讨论了这些结果对研究中国领导力的指导意义。

Type
Special Issue Articles
Copyright
Copyright © International Association for Chinese Management Research 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Altman, I., & Taylor, D. 1973. Social penetration: The development of interpersonal relationships. New York: Holt: Rinehart & Winston.Google Scholar
Ashford, S. J., & Tsui, A. S. 1991. Self-regulation for managerial effectiveness: The role of active feedback seeking. Academy of Management Journal, 34(2): 251280.Google Scholar
Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. 2005. Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. Leadership Quarterly, 16(3): 315338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Avolio, B. J., Gardner, W. J., Walumbwa, F. O., Luthans, F., & May, D. R. 2004. Unlocking the mask: A look at the process by which authentic leaders impact follower attitudes and behaviors. Leadership Quarterly, 15(6): 801823.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauer, D. J., & Curran, P. J. 2005. Probing interactions in fixed and multilevel regression: Inferential and graphical techniques. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 40(3): 373400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bies, R. J., & Moag, J. S. 1986. Interactional justice communication criteria of fairness. In Lewicki, R., Sheppard, B. H. & Bazerman, M. H. (Eds.), Research on negotiation in organizations: 4355. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.Google Scholar
Bliese, P. D. 2000. Within-group agreement, non-independence, and reliability: Implications for data aggregation and analyses. In Klein, K. J. & Kozlowski, J. S. (Eds.), Multilevel theory, research, and methods in organizations: Foundations, extensions, and new directions: 349381. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Boyd, N. G., & Taylor, R. R. 1998. A developmental approach to the examination of friendship in leader-follower relationships. Leadership Quarterly, 9(1): 125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chan, A., Hannah, S. T., & Gardner, W. L. 2005. Veritable authentic leadership: Emergence, functioning, and impacts. In Gardner, W. L., Avolio, B. J. & Walumbwa, F. O. (Eds.), Authentic leadership theory and practice: Origins, effects, and development: 342. Oxford: Elsevier Science.Google Scholar
Chen, X.-P., & Chen, C. C. 2004. On the intricacies of the Chinese guanxi: A process model of guanxi development. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 21(3): 305324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Z. X., & Aryee, S. 2007. Delegation and employee work outcomes: An examination of the cultural context of mediating processes in China. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1): 226238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, B.-S., Chou, L.-F., Wu, T.-Y., Huang, M.-P., & Farh, J.-L. 2004. Paternalistic leadership and subordinate responses: Establishing a leadership model in Chinese organizations. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 7(1): 89117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cho, J., & Dansereau, F. 2010. Are transformational leaders fair? A multi-level study of transformational leadership, justice perceptions, and organizational citizenship behaviors. Leadership Quarterly, 21(3): 409421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clapp-Smith, R., Vogelgesang, G. R., & Avey, J. B. 2009. Authentic leadership and positive psychological capital. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 15(3): 227240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, N. L., & Miller, L. C. 1994. Self-disclosure and liking: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 116(3): 457457.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colquitt, J. A. 2001. On the dimensionality of organizational justice: A construct validation of a measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3): 386400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Detert, J. R., & Burris, E. R. 2007. Leadership behavior and employee voice: Is the door really open? Academy of Management Journal, 50(4): 869884.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farh, J.-L., Dobbins, G. H., & Cheng, B.-S. 1991. Cultural relativity in action: A comparison of self-ratings made by Chinese and US workers. Personnel Psychology, 44(1): 129147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farh, J.-L., Earley, P. C., & Lin, S.-C. 1997. Impetus for action: A cultural analysis of justice and organizational citizenship behavior in Chinese society. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(3): 421444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farh, J.-L., Hackett, R. D., & Liang, J. 2007. Individual-level cultural values as moderators of perceived organizational support-employee outcome relationships in China: Comparing the effects of power distance and traditionality. Academy of Management Journal, 50(3): 715729.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, S. M., Tierney, P., & Kung-McIntyre, K. 2003. Employee creativity in Taiwan: An application of role identity theory. Academy of Management Journal, 46(5): 618630.Google Scholar
Fiol, C. M., Harris, D., & House, R. 1999. Charismatic leadership: Strategies for effecting social change. Leadership Quarterly, 10(3): 449482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, W. L., Avolio, B. J., Luthans, F., May, D. R., & Walumbwa, F. 2005. ‘Can you see the real me?’ A self-based model of authentic leader and follower development. Leadership Quarterly, 16(3): 343372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gavin, M. B., & Hofmann, D. A. 2002. Using hierarchical linear modeling to investigate the moderating influence of leadership climate. Leadership Quarterly, 13(1): 1533.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graen, G. B., & Uhl-Bien, M. 1995. Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership over 25 years: Applying a multi-level multi-domain perspective. Leadership Quarterly, 6(2): 219247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenberg, J. (Ed.). 2011. Organizational justice: The dynamics of fairness in the workplace, Vol. 3. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Hofmann, D. A., & Gavin, M. B. 1998. Centering decisions in hierarchical linear models: Implications for research in organizations. Journal of Management, 24(5): 623641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmann, D. A., Morgeson, F. P., & Gerras, S. J. 2003. Climate as a moderator of the relationship between leader-member exchange and content specific citizenship: Safety climate as an exemplar. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(1): 170178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. 1991. Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. London: McGraw-Hill London.Google Scholar
Hsiung, H.-H. 2012. Authentic leadership and employee voice behavior: A multi-level psychological process. Journal of Business Ethics, 107(3): 349361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, X. 2012. The romance of motivational leadership: How do Chinese leaders motivate employees? Huang, X. & Bond, M. H. (Eds.), Handbook of Chinese organizational behavior: 184208. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ilies, R., Morgeson, F. P., & Nahrgang, J. D. 2005. Authentic leadership and eudaemonic well-being: Understanding leader-follower outcomes. Leadership Quarterly, 16(3): 373394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ilies, R., Nahrgang, J. D., & Morgeson, F. P. 2007. Leader-member exchange and citizenship behaviors: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(1): 269277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, L., Mulaik, S., & Brett, J. 1982. Causal analysis: Assumptions, models, and data. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Jiang, D.-Y., & Cheng, B.-S. 2008. Affect- and role-based loyalty to supervisors in Chinese organizations. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 11(3): 214221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, E. E., & Archer, R. L. 1976. Are there special effects of personalistic self-disclosure? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 12(2): 180193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Judge, T. A., Piccolo, R. F., & Ilies, R. 2004. The forgotten ones? The validity of consideration and initiating structure in leadership research. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(1): 3651.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kark, R., Shamir, B., & Chen, G. 2003. The two faces of transformational leadership: Empowerment and dependency. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(2): 246255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kelley, H. H. 1971. Attributions in social interaction. New York: General Learning Press.Google Scholar
Kernis, M. H., & Goldman, B. M. 2006. A multicomponent conceptualization of authenticity: Theory and research. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38: 283357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kerr, S., & Jermier, J. M. 1978. Substitutes for leadership: Their meaning and measurement. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 22(3): 375403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khazanchi, S., & Masterson, S. S. 2011. Who and what is fair matters: A multi-foci social exchange model of creativity. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32(1): 86106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkman, B. L., Chen, G., Farh, J.-L., Chen, Z. X., & Lowe, K. B. 2009. Individual power distance orientation and follower reactions to transformational leaders: A cross-level, cross-cultural examination. Academy of Management Journal, 52(4): 744764.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leary, M. R., Cottrell, C. A., & Phillips, M. 2001. Deconfounding the effects of dominance and social acceptance on self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(5): 898909.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, K., & Allen, N. J. 2002. Organizational citizenship behavior and workplace deviance: The role of affect and cognitions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(1): 131142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leung, K. 2012. Theorizing about Chinese organizational behavior: The role of culture and social forces. In Huang, X. & Bond, M. H. (Eds.), Handbook of Chinese organizational behavior: 1328. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Leung, K., Su, S., & Morris, M. W. 2001. When is criticism not constructive? The roles of fairness perceptions and dispositional attributions in employee acceptance of critical supervisory feedback. Human Relations, 54(9): 11551187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leung, K., Wang, Z., & Smith, P. B. 2001. Job attitudes and organizational justice in joint venture hotels in China: The role of expatriate managers. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(6): 926945.Google Scholar
Liu, Y., & Perrewe, P. L. 2006. Are they for real? The interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes of perceived authenticity. International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 1(3): 204214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., Hoffman, J. M., West, S. G., & Sheets, V. 2002. A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods, 7(1): 83104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masterson, S. S., Lewis, K., Goldman, B. M., & Taylor, M. S. 2000. Integrating justice and social exchange: The differing effects of fair procedures and treatment on work relationships. Academy of Management Journal, 43(4): 738748.Google Scholar
Mathieu, J. E., & Taylor, S. R. 2006. Clarifying conditions and decision points for mediational type inferences in organizational behavior. Journal of Organizational Journal, 27(8): 10311056.Google Scholar
Piccolo, R. F., & Colquitt, J. A. 2006. Transformational leadership and job behaviors: The mediating role of core job characteristics. Academy of Management Journal, 49(2): 327340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Moorman, R. H., & Fetter, R. 1990. Transformational leader behaviors and their effects on followers’ trust in leader, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors. Leadership Quarterly, 1(2): 107142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. 2003. Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5): 879903.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pratt, D. D. 1991. Conceptions of self within China and the United States: Contrasting foundations for adult education. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 15(3): 285310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Qian, J., Lin, X., & Chen, G. Z.-X. 2012. Authentic leadership and feedback-seeking behaviour: An examination of the cultural context of mediating processes in China. Journal of Management & Organization, 18(3): 286299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raudenbush, S. W., & Bryk, A. S. 2002. Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Rego, A., Sousa, F., Marques, C., & Cunha, M. P. 2012. Authentic leadership promoting employees’ psychological capital and creativity. Journal of Business Research, 65(3): 429437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, Z. 1974. Lovers and other strangers: The development of intimacy in encounters and relationships: Experimental studies of self-disclosure between strangers at bus stops and in airport departure lounges can provide clues about the development of intimate relationships. American Scientist, 62(2): 182190.Google Scholar
Rupp, D. E., & Cropanzano, R. 2002. The mediating effects of social exchange relationships in predicting workplace outcomes from multifoci organizational justice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 89(1): 925946.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartz, S. H. 1992. Universals in the content and structure of values: Theory and empirical tests in 20 countries. In Zanna, M. (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology, Vol. 25: 165. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Shin, S. J., & Zhou, J. 2003. Transformational leadership, conservation, and creativity: Evidence from Korea. Academy of Management Journal, 46(6): 703714.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sobel, M. E. 1982. Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models. In Leinhardt, S. (Ed.), Sociological methodology: 290312. Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.Google Scholar
Spreitzer, G. M., Perttula, K. H., & Xin, K. 2005. Traditionality matters: An examination of the effectiveness of transformational leadership in the United States and Taiwan. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(3): 205227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tan, H. H., & Chee, D. 2005. Understanding interpersonal trust in a Confucian-influenced society: An exploratory study. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 5(2): 197212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, D. A. 1979. Motivational bases. In Chelune, G. J. (Ed.), Self-disclosure: Origins, patterns, and implications of openness in interpersonal relationships: 110151. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
van Knippenberg, D., & De Cremer, D. 2008. Leadership and fairness: Taking stock and looking ahead. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 17(2): 173179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Knippenberg, D., De Cremer, D., & van Knippenberg, B. 2007. Leadership and fairness: The state of the art. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 16(2): 113140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walumbwa, F. O., Avolio, B. J., Gardner, W. L., Wernsing, T. S., & Peterson, S. J. 2008. Authentic leadership: Development and validation of a theory-based measure. Journal of Management, 34(1): 89126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walumbwa, F. O., Luthans, F., Avey, J. B., & Oke, A. 2010. Authentically leading groups: The mediating role of collective psychological capital and trust. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32(1): 424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walumbwa, F. O., Wang, P., Wang, H., Schaubroeck, J., & Avolio, B. J. 2011. Psychological processes linking authentic leadership to follower behaviors. Leadership Quarterly, 21(5): 901914.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, G. E., & Brown, M. 2011. Authenticity in Chinese leadership: A quantitative study comparing Western notions of authentic constructs with Chinese responses to an authenticity instrument. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 6(2): 162188.Google Scholar
Whitener, E. M., Brodt, S. E., Korsgaard, M. A., & Werner, J. M. 1998. Managers as initiators of trust: An exchange relationship framework for understanding managerial trustworthy behavior. Academy of Management Review, 23(3): 513530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wortman, C. B., Adesman, P., Herman, E., & Greenberg, R. 1976. Self-disclosure: An attributional perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 33(2): 184191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, L.-Z., Liu, J., & Liu, G. 2009. Abusive supervision and employee performance: Mechanisms of traditionality and trust. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 41(6): 510518.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yammarino, F. J., Spangler, W. D., & Bass, B. M. 1993. Transformational leadership and performance: A longitudinal investigation. Leadership Quarterly, 4(1): 81102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yammarino, F. J., Dionne, S. D., Schriesheim, C. A., & Dansereau, F. 2008. Authentic leadership and positive organizational behavior: A meso, multi-level perspective. Leadership Quarterly, 19(6): 693707.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, K.-S., Yu, A.-B., & Yeh, M.-H. 1989. Chinese individual modernity and traditionality: Construction definition and measurement. Proceedings of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Chinese Psychology and Behavior, 287354 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yang, X., Peng, Y., & Lee, Y. 2008. The Confucian and Mencian philosophy of benevolent leadership. In Chen, C. C. & Lee, Y.-T. (Eds.), Leadership and management in China: Philosophies, theories, and practices: 3150. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yukl, G. 1981. Leadership in organizations. Englewood, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Zhang, H., Everett, A. M., Elkin, G., & Cone, M. H. 2012. Authentic leadership theory development: Theorizing on Chinese philosophy. Asia Pacific Business Review, 18(4): 587605.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, G., Bai, Y., Caza, A., & Wang, L. Leader integrity and organizational citizenship behavior in China. Management and Organization Review. doi: 10.1111/more.12023Google Scholar