Who is offering a helping hand? Associations between personality and OCBs, and the moderating role of team leader effectiveness

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationships between personality and three types of OCBs (Organizational Citizenship Behaviors), and to test for the potential moderating effects of team leader effectiveness on the relationship between personality and OCBs.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested with data from 268 teachers of secondary schools and were analyzed using Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression.

Findings

The results indicate that extroverts and teachers open for experience engaged more in OCBs towards their school than introverts and teachers less open for experience do. Teachers that are more conscientious score higher on OCBs towards students. That fits with the idea that being conscientious is being careful and responsible. Teachers with introvert and neurotic personalities become more engaged in OCBs than extrovert and emotionally stable teachers do when they appreciate their team leader effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study provided only partial support for the expected relationships between personality and OCBs, the results are notable for personnel selection. Further, several instances of the moderating role of team leader effectiveness were found. This indicates that leaders can encourage the engagement in OCBs, even in the case of thwarting personality characteristics.

Originality/value

The results of this study show some interesting similarities and differences concerning the different OCBs. For instance, openness to experience was related to OCBs towards the school and to OCBs towards team members, and the moderating role of team leader effectiveness acted in the same way for openness to experience and OCBs towards the school and towards team members.

Citation

Hetty van Emmerik, I. and Euwema, M.C. (2007), "Who is offering a helping hand? Associations between personality and OCBs, and the moderating role of team leader effectiveness", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 22 No. 6, pp. 530-548. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710778422