Jeopardies of Aversive Leadership: A Conservation of Resources Theory Approach

Abstract

The research on the dark side of leadership is still in its infancy. We have contributed to this line of research by proposing that work alienation acts as an underlying mechanism through which aversive leadership results in reduced job performance. We further propose that psychological capital (PsyCap) acts as an important personal resource that reduces the negative effects of aversive leadership in the form of work alienation. The proposed model gets its support from the conversation of resources theory given by Hobfoll (1989) which suggests that stressful situation like an aversive leadership results in the loss of employee resources as a result of that he/she indulges in work alienation and shows poor job performance to retain back the lost resources. People with better personal resources in the form of PsyCap are better able to cope-up with the aversive leader behavior and make them able to avoid work alienation. It is a time-lagged study. The data for the current study was collected from 321 employees working in the service sector organizations, particularly universities, banks and telecom organizations, through personally administered questionnaires. The results supported the mediation and moderation hypothesis. Limitations and future research along with theoretical and practical implications are given at the end.

When Do Employees Speak Up Under Job Stressors? Exploring the Potential U-Shaped Relationship Between Hindrance Stressors and Voice Behavior

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Impact of Ethical Leadership on Employees Helping Behavior: Role of Moral Attentiveness and Moral Courage

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“…Although the voice of employees is a risky behavior (Bashshur and Oc, 2015), the voice endorsement can alleviate the stress and fear of doing so again on subsequent occasions. Based on the COR theory, when employees are in a state of stress or fear, it will cause the depletion of their resources (Fatima et al, 2018). With the reduction in stress associated with risky behavior, the resources that employees put into their work will not be lost.…”