To be One of us, you have to Feel like one of us: How Leaders’ Expressed Emotions Influence Followers’ Perceptions of Leader Self-Sacrifice Intentions and Effectiveness in a Crisis Situation

Abstract

Displaying appropriate emotions enhances followers’ perceptions toward a leader. The present study examined the moderating effect of leader group-prototypicality on the relationship between leader’s emotion appropriateness and followers’ perceptions toward the leader (i.e., self-sacrifice intentions and effectiveness). Based on a set of 366 Malaysian students’ experimental survey responses, leader group-prototypicality emerged as a significant moderator. Specifically, the effect of leader’s emotion appropriateness was stronger for group-prototypical leaders than non-group-prototypical leaders. Hence, to enhance their perceived effectiveness, leaders should portray appropriate emotions and ensure that they are viewed as representative by their followers.

Citation

Tee, E.Y.J., Ng, Y.L. and Paulsen, N. (2014), "To be One of us, you have to Feel like one of us: How Leaders’ Expressed Emotions Influence Followers’ Perceptions of Leader Self-Sacrifice Intentions and Effectiveness in a Crisis Situation", Emotions and the Organizational Fabric (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 247-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-979120140000010018