My boss' group is my group: experimental evidence for the leader‐follower identity transfer
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 31 August 2010
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend work on the leader‐follower identity transfer by providing the first empirical evidence for the causal relationship between leader and follower organizational identification.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed causal relationship between leader and follower organizational identification (OI) was tested in a scenario study and in a laboratory experiment. Additionally, in the laboratory experiment the impact of leader OI on follower performance was examined.
Findings
The results suggest that highly identified leaders positively influence their followers' attitudes and performance by affecting their self‐concept, i.e. increasing their OI.
Practical implications
Improving leader OI provides a promising way for organizations to increase their employees' OI and performance.
Originality/value
The paper provides the first empirical evidence for the proposed causal relationship between leader and follower OI, with implications for individual and organizational effectiveness.
Keywords
Citation
van Dick, R. and Schuh, S.C. (2010), "My boss' group is my group: experimental evidence for the leader‐follower identity transfer", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 551-563. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437731011070032
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited