The Effects of Perceived Leader Narcissism on Employee Proactive Behavior: Examining the Moderating Roles of LMX Quality and Leader Identification

Shudi Liao, Beatrice Van der Heijden, Yuhao Liu, Xingchi Zhou and Zhiwen Guo
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Shudi Liao: Business School, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Beatrice Van der Heijden: Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6500 HK Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Yuhao Liu: School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Xingchi Zhou: School of Management, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, China
Zhiwen Guo: Business School, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: The purpose of this quantitative field study is to examine the relationship between perceived leader narcissism and employee proactive behavior, incorporating leader–member exchange (LMX) quality and leader identification as moderators. Within the social identity theory framework, implicit leadership and social categorization theories are used as the underpinning basis for our hypothesized three-way interaction moderation model. The research sample consisted of 90 groups (including 326 employees and 90 leaders) from different companies in China. Results indicate that there is a three-way interaction effect between perceived leader narcissism, LMX quality, and leader identification, which negatively influences employee proactive behavior. Specifically, when LMX quality and leader identification are both at a high level, the negative relationship between perceived leader narcissism and employee proactive behavior is most salient. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: perceived leader narcissism; LMX quality; leader identification; implicit leadership theories; social categorization theory; employee proactive behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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