A multi-level study of emergent group leadership: Effects of emotional stability and group conflict

Li, Yan, Chun, Hui, Ashkanasy, Neal M. and Ahlstrom, David (2012) A multi-level study of emergent group leadership: Effects of emotional stability and group conflict. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 29 2: 351-366.


Author Li, Yan
Chun, Hui
Ashkanasy, Neal M.
Ahlstrom, David
Title A multi-level study of emergent group leadership: Effects of emotional stability and group conflict
Journal name Asia Pacific Journal of Management  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-06
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1007/s10490-012-9298-4
Volume number 29
Issue number 2
ISSN 0217-4561; 1572-9958
Start page 351
End page 366
Total pages 16
Place of publication New York, NY, United States
Publisher Springer New York
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract Based on theories of self-organization and group evolution, we propose and test a multi-level model of emergent leadership in work groups. We investigated in particular how individual trait emotional stability (emotional disorder threshold, emotional resilience) and perceived group conflict (task conflict, relationship conflict) affect the awareness of emerging as a group leader. Based on data from 230 employees in 56 work groups in eight Chinese firms, and analyzed using structural equation and hierarchical linear modeling, the results support the idea that emotional stability is positively related with emergent leadership, but negatively with group task and relationship conflict. We also found that group task and relationship conflict moderated associations between emotional stability and emergent leadership, although the moderating effect of relationship conflict was marginal. The implications of the findings for theory relate to the relevance of self-organization and group survival theory for understanding leadership emergence. From a practical perspective, our findings suggest that mangers can expect leadership in conflicted groups to emerge from more emotionally stable group members.
Keyword Leadership
Emotional stability
Emotional resilience
Emotional threshold
Relationship conflict
China
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ
Additional Notes From the issue entitled "Leadership in Asia"

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2013 Collection
UQ Business School Publications
 
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