The Effects of Vacillating Leadership Style on Subordinate Voice Behaviors and Creativity and Its Mechanisms

Location

Sasquatch Room 124 C

Start Date

22-4-2023 3:50 PM

End Date

22-4-2023 5:05 PM

Publication Date

2023

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Law | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Prior studies (Acuna & Male, 2022; Watkins & Walker, 2021) have linked toxic leaders' negative consequences to subordinates. For example, research has shown a yearly organizational-cost of $450billion-$550billion in the United States because of toxic leaders. Nevertheless, the same organizations could save $12,500 if they avoid recruiting toxic leaders (Bremer, 2020). Another study revealed that toxic leadership cost the United Kingdom £15.7billion/per annum (Baker, 2020). Schmidt’s (2008) qualitative study explained toxic leadership on a five-dimensional pattern. Of these dimensions, existing studies focus on Abusive-Supervision, Narcissism, Authoritarian Leadership and Self-promotion. Yet, there is little research on vacillating leadership (Schilling et al., 2022), a core element of toxic leadership that makes a leader toxic (Schmidt, 2008), and its possible effects on voice behaviours and creativity. Vacillating/Unpredictable leadership has been associated with behavioural volatility that deteriorates communication, productivity, and approachability, instilling fear in subordinates (Schmidt, 2008). Scholars have expressed vacillating leadership as Unpredictable (Acuna & Male, 2022), Inconsistent (Vullinghs et al., 2020), Volatile (Swan, 2018), Erratic (Aravena, 2019) and Fickle (Spain, 2019). The empirical works of Greer et al. (2013) linked vacillation to a leader’s emotional expression and not behaviour. However, Acuna and Male (2022) argued that leader vacillation/unpredictability are behaviours that weaken morale, and adversely influence proactive behaviours. A recent follow-up study by Schilling et al. (2022) revealed that vacillating/inconsistent leadership is in its infancy with sparse research. Indeed, vacillating leadership is a social problem, and the contradictory studies, scarce research and unexplored dimensions justify scholarly investigation to determine its effects on voice behaviours and creativity, using social exchange theory.

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Apr 22nd, 3:50 PM Apr 22nd, 5:05 PM

The Effects of Vacillating Leadership Style on Subordinate Voice Behaviors and Creativity and Its Mechanisms

Sasquatch Room 124 C

Prior studies (Acuna & Male, 2022; Watkins & Walker, 2021) have linked toxic leaders' negative consequences to subordinates. For example, research has shown a yearly organizational-cost of $450billion-$550billion in the United States because of toxic leaders. Nevertheless, the same organizations could save $12,500 if they avoid recruiting toxic leaders (Bremer, 2020). Another study revealed that toxic leadership cost the United Kingdom £15.7billion/per annum (Baker, 2020). Schmidt’s (2008) qualitative study explained toxic leadership on a five-dimensional pattern. Of these dimensions, existing studies focus on Abusive-Supervision, Narcissism, Authoritarian Leadership and Self-promotion. Yet, there is little research on vacillating leadership (Schilling et al., 2022), a core element of toxic leadership that makes a leader toxic (Schmidt, 2008), and its possible effects on voice behaviours and creativity. Vacillating/Unpredictable leadership has been associated with behavioural volatility that deteriorates communication, productivity, and approachability, instilling fear in subordinates (Schmidt, 2008). Scholars have expressed vacillating leadership as Unpredictable (Acuna & Male, 2022), Inconsistent (Vullinghs et al., 2020), Volatile (Swan, 2018), Erratic (Aravena, 2019) and Fickle (Spain, 2019). The empirical works of Greer et al. (2013) linked vacillation to a leader’s emotional expression and not behaviour. However, Acuna and Male (2022) argued that leader vacillation/unpredictability are behaviours that weaken morale, and adversely influence proactive behaviours. A recent follow-up study by Schilling et al. (2022) revealed that vacillating/inconsistent leadership is in its infancy with sparse research. Indeed, vacillating leadership is a social problem, and the contradictory studies, scarce research and unexplored dimensions justify scholarly investigation to determine its effects on voice behaviours and creativity, using social exchange theory.