Should we stop using the label of “paternalistic leadership”? Evidence from three Chinese samples
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 9 August 2022
Issue publication date: 18 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Proponents of paternalistic leadership argue that a paternalistic leader is authoritative and at the same time, a benevolent and moral individual, and this style is effective in non-Western societies. However, past empirical studies consistently found that authoritarianism related negatively to benevolence, morality and job outcomes. The authors posit that the original proposed style probably did not exist, or at least not being a dominant style, in modern Chinese business organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected supervisor–subordinate dyadic data from three independent Chinese sample in Taiwan (N = 305), Hubei (N = 350) and Jiangsu (N = 270) and utilized the latent profile analysis method to test the hypotheses.
Findings
First, authoritarianism ratings are much lower than ratings of benevolence and morality. Second, none of the identified profiles is high on authoritarianism, benevolence and morality at the same time. Third, leadership style with low authoritarianism, but high on benevolence and morality leads to the best employee outcomes.
Originality/value
Conceptually, the authors clarify the typical leadership styles that compose of the independent dimensions proposed by paternalistic leadership researchers. Methodologically, the authors showed that using person-centered latent profile analysis method can examine combinations of various leadership dimensions or constructs to examine a leader as a whole person. Practically, understanding a leadership style that composes of different levels of various leadership constructs may better inform managers and leaders how they could effectively influence subordinates.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 72001218).
Citation
Wong, C.-S., Lan, J., Peng, K.Z. and Iun, J. (2022), "Should we stop using the label of “paternalistic leadership”? Evidence from three Chinese samples", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 909-927. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-06-2021-0267
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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