Abstract
Much of the behavior at work takes place within teams. Leaders of teams experience different feelings that, in turn, can have an impact on how team members feel and perform. This study examined the effects of leaders’ mood on individual team members’ mood, group affective tone, and team outcomes (actual team performance, potency, and goal commitment) in a laboratory study, with a sample of 63 students working in three-person teams. Furthermore, the study investigated the mediating role of group affective tone in the leaders’ mood–team outcomes relationship. Results demonstrated that leaders influence team members’ individual mood, group affective tone, actual team performance, and potency. Moreover, group affective tone mediated the relationship between team leaders’ mood and potency. Taken together, the findings suggest that in order to enhance subordinates’ work experience and to attain desired outcomes, leaders should be aware of their mood and its potential effects.
Highlights
Our feelings and behavior can be strongly influenced by our interactions with others
In contrast to an earlier field study [7], the present study examines the mediational effect of group affective tone in a laboratory study, with strong control over potential third variables that might interfere with the research questions
The present study investigates the effects of leaders’ mood on followers’ mood and team outcomes, and examines the mediating role of mood contagion
Summary
Our feelings and behavior can be strongly influenced by our interactions with others. In comparison to other team members, leaders are considered to be more effective in transferring mood to others and in influencing team outcomes due to their salience within teams [12]. It has been shown in research on dating partners that the more powerful partner influences the other partner, yet the reverse is not true [11,13]. Because team leaders are usually more powerful than team members, it is important to explore and better understand the effects of leaders’ mood on team members’ feelings and outcomes
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