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Wisdom and narcissism as predictors of transformational leadership

Claire E. Greaves (School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Hannes Zacher (School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Bernard McKenna (Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
David Rooney (Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)

Leadership & Organization Development Journal

ISSN: 0143-7739

Article publication date: 27 May 2014

3054

Abstract

Purpose

Although leadership and organizational scholars have suggested that the virtue of wisdom may promote outstanding leadership behavior, this proposition has rarely been empirically tested. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between transformational leadership, narcissism, and five dimensions of wisdom as conceptualized by the well-established Berlin wisdom paradigm. General mental ability and emotional intelligence were considered relevant control variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Interview, test, and questionnaire data were obtained from 77 employees of a high school and from two or three colleagues of each employee. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

After controlling for general mental ability and emotional intelligence, narcissism and the wisdom dimension relativism of values and life priorities were negatively related to transformational leadership, and the wisdom dimension recognition and management of uncertainty was positively related to transformational leadership. The other three wisdom dimensions, rich factual knowledge about life, rich procedural knowledge about life, and lifespan contextualism, were not significantly related to transformational leadership.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to be addressed in future studies include the cross-sectional design and the relatively small and specialized sample.

Practical implications

Tentative implications for leadership training and development are outlined.

Originality/value

This multi-method and multi-source study represents the first empirical investigation that examines links between well-established wisdom and leadership constructs in the work context.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Angelika Bock for helping with this study.

Citation

E. Greaves, C., Zacher, H., McKenna, B. and Rooney, D. (2014), "Wisdom and narcissism as predictors of transformational leadership", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 335-358. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-07-2012-0092

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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