Do networks get emotional? The role of leaders’ emotions for (network) success

Abstract

ABSTRACT Emotions are an important component of human life, influencing dyadic and organization-wide interactions. More specifically, leaders’ emotions affect positively and negatively not only their followers, but also organizational and group outcomes. Through a multiple case study of four collaborative governance networks, this paper explores whether and how leaders’ emotions influence network success. The results show that the emotional states that leaders bring into the network seem to influence its functioning: positive emotions seem to propel its activities and outcomes; negative emotions appear to curb them. Emotions seem also to interact with network identity and trust in affecting network success.