When Leaders Are Not Who They Appear: The Effects of Leader Disclosure of a Concealable Stigma on Follower Reactions

Two studies examined follower reactions to disclosure of concealable stigma (i.e., transgender identity) by a leader. Using 109 employed participants, Study 1 showed followers rated leaders disclosing a stigma less likable and effective. This effect was both direct and indirect through relational identification with the leader. Using 206 employed participants, Study 2 found when a leader\u27s stigma was involuntarily found out and disclosed later they received lower ratings of likability and effectiveness compared to leaders who voluntarily came out and disclosed earlier. Method (found out vs. came out) and timing of disclosure (later vs. earlier) had direct relationships with ratings of likability and effectiveness and method of disclosure had an indirect relationship with the outcomes via relational identification

Becoming a leader with clipped wings: The role of early-career unemployment scarring on future leadership role occupancy

Whereas the scarring effects of unemployment on future income, health and well-being are well-documented, little is known about its potential role in future leadership emergence and development. Using data from two cohorts of the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY79 and NLSY97) and drawing from life course theory, we examine the role of employment gaps in emerging adulthood on leadership role occupancy in middle adulthood. Based on a combined sample of 9,915 respondents (NLSY79 N = 5,551; NLSY97 N = 4,567), we find strong and robust support for significant scarring effects of early-career unemployment on individuals’ future chances to occupy leadership positions in work settings. We further examine the moderating role of early life disadvantage (operationalized as family socio-economic status and childhood delinquency) and sex. Based on our main and supplementary analyses, we find some but weak support for these interaction effects. Our results based on complete case analyses support the role of early life disadvantage, showing that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds experience stronger negative effects on leader role occupancy due to employment gaps in emerging adulthood. They further support the moderating role of sex, showing women to experience more adverse effects. Implications for theory and practice are discussed

Complementary person-supervisor fit: An investigation of supplies-values (S-V) fit, leader-member exchange (LMX) and work outcomes

By applying the supplies-values (S-V) fit approach from the complementary person-environment (P-E) fit literature to the leader-employee perspective, and drawing upon social exchange theory, we examine how fulfillment of different work values is related to Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and work outcomes. First, polynomial regression analyses combined with response surface analysis of data collected at two time points (N = 316) showed that LMX (Time 2) was higher the more the leader fulfills the employee's work values (Time 1). Second, LMX (Time 2) was higher when leader supplies (Time 1) and employee work values (Time 1) were both high than when both were low. Third, analyses of data from a sub-sample of matched leader-employee dyads (N = 140), showed that LMX (Time 2) played a mediating role on the relation between S-V fit (Time 1) and work outcomes (Time 2). Specifically, we found eight out of 10 relationships between S-V fit (Time 1) and leader-rated task performance and OCB (Time 2) to be fully mediated by LMX (Time 2). LMX (Time 2) partially mediated the relation between S-V fit (Time 1) and job satisfaction (Time 2) as only two out of five relationships were fully mediated

Polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for blood-brain barrier permeation

Neurodegenerative diseases pose a significant and escalating threat, characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons and cognitive decline. Addressing this challenge requires the development of innovative therapeutic modalities aimed at neural regeneration, contingent upon overcoming the formidable obstacle presented by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This research explores the utilization of polymeric nanoparticles as tailored drug delivery systems, specifically designed for non-invasive permeation of the BBB. Methodologically, diblock copolymers serve as foundational components for the self-assembly of polymeric nanoparticles, utilizing a variety of techniques, including flash nanoprecipitation, slow addition, dialysis, and microfluidic systems. However, it was observed that the nanoparticles exhibit increased size and high polydispersity, attributed to kinetic entrapment and the protein corona phenomenon, indicating significant NP-protein interactions. Furthermore, in vivo zebrafish studies revealed acceptable viability and size for PDMA87-b-PLLA30 nanoparticles, though further investigation is warranted. Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) was employed to generate diverse morphologies from the aforementioned diblock copolymers, aiming to enhance retention time. Despite the successful acquisition of diamond-shaped and cylindrical microstructures, the restrictive size and challenges associated with the protein corona phenomenon underscore the need for extensive optimization to facilitate BBB permeation. Additionally, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) nanoparticles underwent comprehensive evaluation, including cytotoxicity, internalization, and permeability studies using an in vitro BBB model. Notably, PISA NP 62 Tf exhibited high levels of endocytosis in the CD34+ cell line, while PISA NP PDMA demonstrated the highest permeability percentage without compromising the integrity of the in vitro BBB model. Overall, the results demonstrate the versatility of polymeric nanoparticles in enabling BBB penetration, offering promising avenues for targeted drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). Through meticulous optimization of nanoparticle design and fabrication methods, this research contributes to the advancement of nanomedicine, with implications for the development of effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and beyond

Ethical Leadership and Ethical Voice: The Mediating Mechanisms of Value Internalization and Integrity Identity

Drawing upon self-concept and social-information processing perspectives, we theorize and test a model linking ethical leadership with ethical voice via ethical value internalization and integrity identity. In two field studies (N = 972 and N = 765, respectively) of police officers and staff in the United Kingdom and an online 3-wave study (N = 448), we investigate the mediating role of ethical value internalization and integrity identity in the relationship between ethical leadership and ethical voice. Study 1 uses time-lagged data and demonstrates ethical leadership to be positively related to followers’ ethical value internalization, which in turn enhances their integrity identity and ethical voice. The serial mediation effect of the relationship between ethical leadership and ethical voice via employees’ ethical value internalization and integrity identity is also significant. Further support for our hypotheses is provided using multi-source data (Study 2) and a 3-wave cross-lagged design (Study 3). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Leadership and followership identity processes: A multilevel review

A growing body of leadership literature focuses on leader and follower identity dynamics, levels, processes of development and outcomes. Despite the importance of the phenomena, there has been surprisingly little effort to systematically review the widely dispersed literature on leader and follower identity. In this review we map existing studies on a multilevel framework that integrates levels-of-the self (individual, relational and collective) with the levels-of-analysis (intrapersonal, interpersonal and group) on which leader or follower identity work takes place. We also synthesize work from multiple research paradigms, such as social psychology experimental studies, narrative accounts of leaders' identity work and field studies on antecedents, outcomes, mediating mechanisms and boundary conditions. Finally, we outline implications for leadership development and call attention to key themes we see ripe for future research

In pursuit of causality in leadership training research: A review and pragmatic recommendations

Although research shows a reliable association between leadership training and positive organizational outcomes, a range of research design issues mean we do not know to what degree the former causes the later. Accordingly, the paper has two main aims. First, to describe the conditions necessary to determine causality in leadership training research and the ability of different research designs to achieve this. Six important, but often ignored, issues associated with determining causality are described (control conditions, sample representation, condition randomization, condition independence, temporal design, and author involvement). Second, to review the extent to which the leadership training literature is able to demonstrate causality. The review shows that the majority of studies do not meet many of the criteria, even the most basic criteria, required to establish causality. Finally, we provide guidelines for designing future research to improve causal identification and is capable of generating meaningful theory and policy recommendations

Leader-member Exchange (LMX) ambivalence and task performance: The cross-domain buffering role of social support.

Leader-member exchange (LMX) theory proposes that leaders develop different quality relationships with those they manage and this is predictive of work performance. While LMX quality has been viewed as univalent (ranging from low to high quality), this paper proposes that it can also be bivalent in nature (i.e., coexisting positive and negative thoughts towards the relationship), which we refer to as LMX ambivalence. A survey measure of LMX ambivalence is developed, and through three validation and two main studies, it is shown to have construct, discriminant, and incremental predictive validity beyond that of LMX quality. Hypotheses concerning LMX ambivalence and task performance are tested in two main studies and show that (1) LMX ambivalence is negatively related to performance regardless of LMX quality, (2) high levels of perceived support from the organization (Study 1) or coworkers (Study 2) nullify the negative association between LMX ambivalence and performance, and (3) high LMX ambivalence leads to more negative affect and in turn lower task performance, but only when coworker support is low (Study 2). These results show the importance of viewing LMX quality not only in terms of its absolute level (low vs. high quality) but also as a bivalent construct where both positive and negative cognitions can coexist. They also demonstrate the value of social support in buffering the negative effects of LMX ambivalence. Furthermore, our findings extend a central tenet of LMX theory by implying that LMX quality varies not only within groups (i.e., LMX differentiation) but also within leader-follower dyads

‘Distant but close’: Leadership behaviours, psychological distance, employee coping and effectiveness in remote work contexts

Drawing on construal level and conservation of resources theories, our paper focuses on the psychological distance employees experience from their manager in remote work contexts. We specifically examine the role of three leadership behaviours (initiating structure, consideration and vision communication) on employees' perceptions of psychological distance from their manager and the subsequent effects on employee task, emotion and avoidance coping and individual effectiveness outcomes. Using data from two independent studies (Study 1: a four‐wave time‐lagged online study of remotely working 338 participants; Study 2: a four‐wave time‐lagged study of 202 hybrid working professionals), we found that consideration and vision communication reduced employees' perceptions of psychological distance from their manager, while psychological distance decreased task coping. Support for a serial mediation model was also found, with consideration and vision communication indirectly influencing task performance and consideration indirectly influencing organizational citizenship behaviours and withdrawal behaviours via psychological distance and then via task coping. Our research results provide new insights into the role of leadership in remote work contexts and highlight the implications of psychological distance from the leader for employees' coping responses and individual effectiveness

Reluctance to lead: Conceptualization and contextualization

Recent studies indicate a potential trend of waning enthusiasm for leadership positions. This increasing trend of avoiding leadership roles has prompted a new area of research, concentrating on agentic perspectives in leader emergence and self-selection biases. This study focuses on a key concept in this emerging field: “reluctance to lead” (RTL). Only recently has reluctance in the leadership context received limited attention from a few scholars. These efforts primarily concentrated on RTL before the role occupancy by defining it as individuals' hesitations to accept a leadership role when presented with the opportunity. This paper broadens the conceptualization of RTL by extending its definition as the hesitation of a high-potential individual both before and after role occupancy (i.e., individuals’ hesitations about their fit to the role while it is practiced). Prior studies also adopted a person-centered approach, focusing on identity- and competency-related factors while overlooking the contextual aspects in explaining RTL. This paper integrates contextual foci into the discussion of RTL, specifically exploring how spatial and technological, organizational, leadership, socio-cultural, and historical contexts (with a focus on Europe) interface with RTL. We conclude by proposing a research agenda and discussing the theoretical and practical implications of this new line of research