Machiavellian Leader Effectiveness

Abstract

Abstract. Research on the effectiveness of Machiavellian leaders has found contradictory results. By linking socioanalytic and trait activation theory to the Machiavellianism and leadership literature, we argue that political skill may explain these findings by moderating the relation between Machiavellianism and leadership effectiveness. Using a multisource design and moderated mediation analyses with 153 leaders, 287 subordinates, and 153 superiors, we show that leaders who are both strongly politically skilled and high on Machiavellianism successfully enact transformational leadership, mediating improved leader effectiveness. However, when leader political skill is low, high Machiavellianism is negatively associated with (subordinate-rated) transformational leadership, resulting in lower leader effectiveness ratings by superiors. We discuss these results in light of current research on Machiavellianism in leadership and work contexts.

Habilidade Política de estudantes de Ciências Contábeis

“…Pesquisas têm associado a habilidade política com outros atributos, como por exemplo, com o suporte organizacional (García-Chas, Neira-Fontela, Varela-Neira, & Curto-Rodríguez, 2019), a ética (Kacmar, Andrews, Harris, & Tepper, 2013), o desempenho do grupo (Lvina, Johns, & Vandenberghe, 2018), redução de comportamentos negativos no trabalho (De Clercq, Ul Haq, Azeem, & Ahmad, 2019), eficácia dos líderes (Genau, Blickle, Schütte, & Meurs, 2022), desempenho no trabalho (Blickle et al, 2011), (in)satisfação no trabalho (Hochwarter, James, Johnson, & Ferris, 2004;Atshan et al, 2022), venda orientada ao cliente (Good & Schwepker Jr, 2002), entre outros. Em tais pesquisas, observou-se que maior habilidade política tem efeitos em tais atributos.…”

Political Skill of Accounting Students

“…Research has associated political skill with other attributes, such as organizational support (García-Chas, Neira-Fontela, Varela-Neira, & Curto-Rodríguez, 2019), Ethics (Kacmar, Andrews, Harris, & Tepper, 2013),, the performance of the group (Lvina, Johns, & Vandenberghe, 2018),reduction of negative behavior at work (De Clercq, Ul Haq, Azeem, & Ahmad, 2019), Effectiveness of leaders (Genau, Blickle, Schütte, & Meurs, 2022), performance at work (Blickle et al, 2011), (in)Satisfaction at work (Hochwarter, James, Johnson, & Ferris, 2004;Atshan et al, 2022), customer-oriented sales (Good & Schwepker Jr, 2002), among others. In such research, it was observed that greater political ability has effects on such attributes.…”

The type of involuntary overtime and emotional exhaustion among Chinese medical staff: The mediating role of job stress and moderated mediation role of desire for control in Machiavellian leadership

“…In addition, the desire for control refers to the achievement and satisfaction of individuals by changing the world to meet their own needs (Yuan & Men, 2020). The Machiavellian leadership style affects members through a strong desire for control (Genau, Blickle, Schütte, & Meurs, 2022). Surveys have shown that the desire for control has a negative impact on openness (Zhang, 2020).…”