In the Eye of the Follower: Follower Attributions That Affect Leader-Follower Relationships

Leader-follower relationships are complex and dynamic. What the research featured in this symposium demonstrates is that these relationships are contingent upon and shaped by the attributions that followers make regarding their leaders and their work. In other words, this research suggests that the quality of leaders’ influence is based not just on what the leader does, but on what the followers think about what the leader does and their work. Unfortunately, this general idea has been relatively underexplored and underemphasized in leadership research. In this Insights First symposium, presentors will discuss insights from their latest research exploring the role follower attributions play in leader-follower relationships, all aimed at broadening, deepening, and pushing forward both leadership research and practical leadership implications. Nasty or Naïve? An Investigation of Follower Attributions for Leader Incivility Behaviors Presenter: Heath Gregg; U. of Miami Presenter: Changmeng Xu; U. of Miami Presenter: Marie Dasborough; U. of Miami Meaningful Work and Leadership Relationships in Leader-Follower Dyads Presenter: Jayoung Kim; Binghamton U.-State U. of New York Presenter: Francis J. Yammarino; Binghamton U.-State U. of New York Presenter: Dongil Jung; Yonsei U. Looking Beyond Leadership Behaviors: Followers’ Perceptions of Leaders’ Focus Matters Too Presenter: Ryan Gottfredson; California State U., Fullerton Presenter: Anna Maria Zabinski; Oklahoma State U. Presenter: Mark Hiatt; Kennesaw State U. Feeling Trusted by the Supervisor and its Consequences Presenter: Xin Zhang; The Chinese U. of Hong Kong Presenter: C. Ashley Fulmer; Georgia State U. Presenter: Qi Song; Southwestern U. of Finance and Economics Presenter: Yang Chen; Southwestern U. of Finance and Economics