Leadership, Interpersonal Conflict, and Counterproductive Work Behavior: An Examination of the Stressor–Strain Process

Abstract

AbstractResearchers have established a link between interpersonal conflicts among employees and counterproductive work behavior (CWB), which consists of acts that harm organizations and people in organizations. Both conflict and CWB can be damaging variables that have far reaching consequences for organizations. In a study of 116 employee–coworker dyads, we tested models linking leadership behaviors (passive/avoidant leadership and transformational leadership), interpersonal conflict (with coworkers and supervisors), and CWB directed toward the organization or other people. We found support for models positing that leadership behaviors and interpersonal conflict lead to negative emotions, which in turn lead to the amount of CWB committed.