Group- and individual-focused transformational leadership: A scenario study based on a new typology

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a new transformational leadership typology by demonstrating high/low degrees of group- and individual-focused transformational leader behaviors – authentic type (high-high), group-oriented type (high-low) and individual-oriented type (low-high) – and to predict that the three types relate differently to follower responses (intention to sacrifice, cognitive trust of supervisor and affective liking).

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an experimental scenario to generate the maximum levels of between-group variance among the three types. A total of 182 mainland Chinese full-time employees participated in the experiment.

Findings

Followers’ intention to sacrifice is equally high under the authentic, group-oriented and individual-oriented types of leadership. In addition, followers’ cognitive trust of supervisor is equally high under the authentic and group-oriented types and the lowest under the individual-oriented type. Finally, followers’ affective liking is equally high under the authentic and individual-oriented types and the lowest for the group-oriented type.

Originality/value

A new transformational leadership typology that combines high and low degrees of group- and individual-focused behaviors is established. Based on this typology, this study shows how the three types distinctively affect followers’ reactions, including intention to sacrifice, cognitive trust of supervisor and affective liking.

Citation

Chen, Y., Lin, Y.-C., Hsu, M.-S. and Lin, Y.-H. (2020), "Group- and individual-focused transformational leadership: A scenario study based on a new typology", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-11-2017-0330