When leader is morally corrupt: interplay of despotic leadership and self-concordance on moral emotions and bullying behavior
Journal of Management Development
ISSN: 0262-1711
Article publication date: 3 July 2020
Issue publication date: 26 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates despotic leadership (DL) as an antecedent to bullying behavior with a mediating role of moral emotions at work. Another aim is to study the moderating role of self-concordance to buffer the relationship between DL and arousal of moral emotions.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected two-source (self-reported and supervisor reported) time-lagged data in the shape of a three-wave survey (i.e. one month time interval for each time) from 242 dyads in the health sector of Pakistan.
Findings
The results revealed that moral emotions mediated the relationship between DL and bullying behavior. Furthermore, self-concordance moderates the relationship between DL and moral emotions, such that the relationship will be stronger in the case of low self-concordance.
Research limitations/implications
Managers need to promote a culture that accommodates diversity of opinion at the organization so that everyone is able to express and share their views openly. Organizations should encourage supervisors to participate in leadership development programs aimed at eliminating DL.
Originality/value
This study establishes the role of self-concordance and moral emotions in the relationship between despotic leadership DL and bullying behavior.
Keywords
Citation
Syed, F., Akhtar, M.W., Kashif, M., Asrar-ul-Haq, M., ain, Q.u., Husnain, M. and Aslam, M.K. (2020), "When leader is morally corrupt: interplay of despotic leadership and self-concordance on moral emotions and bullying behavior", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 39 No. 7/8, pp. 911-928. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-05-2019-0183
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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