Leader-follower congruence in overqualification and leader undermining: the mediating role of leader's downward envy
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 11 April 2024
Issue publication date: 19 June 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon social comparison theory, this paper explores the (in)congruence effect of leader and follower overqualification on leader's downward envy, which in turn leads to leader undermining behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Using two-wave, multi-sourced data gathered in China, a polynomial regression was conducted on 301 leader-follower dyads.
Findings
Results show asymmetrical incongruence effects, indicating greater leader's downward envy when leader overqualification was lower than follower overqualification. In addition, by increasing downward envy, leader-follower (in)congruence in overqualification has an indirect positive effect on leader undermining behavior.
Practical implications
This study highlights the importance of being conscious of both parties’ overqualification levels to avoid unfavorable outcomes. Meanwhile, training for both parties is crucial, offering a holistic understanding of leader-follower overqualification differences and downward envy, as well as skills to manage “triggers” of leader undermining.
Originality/value
Our study is among the first to examine the effects of overqualification from a leader-follower dyadic congruence perspective. It suggests that leader's downward envy and undermining behaviors toward followers are influenced by both follower and leader overqualification.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2023A1515030180), the Ministry of Education in China (MOE) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (No. 22YJA630050), the Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project of Guangdong, China (No. GD22CGL31), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 71802063, 72071052, and 72001218), JSPS KAKENHI (No. 24K00284) and “Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment” from MEXT.
Citation
Liu, F., Lan, J., Zhu, W., Gong, Y. and Peng, X. (2024), "Leader-follower congruence in overqualification and leader undermining: the mediating role of leader's downward envy", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 45 No. 5, pp. 849-862. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-05-2023-0241
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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