Cultivating Follower Trust: Are All Leader Behaviors Equally Influential?

Journal Article (Journal Article)

We draw on the relevant extant literatures to examine the pathways to building trust through leader behaviors with three distinct emphases: the leader (personal leadership), the leader-follower relationship (relational leadership), and the situation (contextual leadership). We test this model using experimental data collected from experienced managers (Study 1) and field data collected from the peers and direct reports of business executives (Study 2). The results from these two studies both build on and challenge current views in the trust and leadership literatures about how leaders influence trust. Consistent with past literature, our findings indicate that various leadership behaviors appear to directly promote follower trust when analyzed independently. However, when these behaviors are analyzed jointly, relational leadership behaviors were found to mediate the effects of personal and contextual leadership behaviors on follower trust. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Hernandez, M; Long, CP; Sitkin, SB

Published Date

  • December 28, 2014

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 35 / 12

Start / End Page

  • 1867 - 1892

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1741-3044

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0170-8406

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/0170840614546152

Citation Source

  • Scopus