Interactive Effect of Leaders’ Influence Tactics and Ethical Leadership on Work Effort and Helping Behavior

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the interactive influence of a) leaders’ exemplification and supplication efforts and b) followers’ perceptions of the leaders’ ethicality on followers’ work efforts and helping behaviors. We surveyed 58 leaders and 175 followers who worked for a governmental agency in the United States. Results indicated that the expected positive (negative) relationship between leaders’ usage of exemplification and work effort was evident when ethical leadership was high (low). The expected positive relationship between leaders’ engagement in supplication and helping behaviors was not present when ethical leadership was high, but the predicted negative relationship was found between supplication and helping when perceptions of leaders’ ethicality were low.