Leading with moral courage: The interplay of guilt and courage on perceived ethical leadership and group organizational citizenship behaviors. (19th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mansur, Juliana; Sobral, Filipe; Islam, Gazi
• Is Part Of: Business ethics. Volume 29:Number 3(2020:Jul.)
• Page Start: 587
• Page End: 601
• Publication Date: 2020-02-19
• Subjects: Business ethics -- Periodicals; Business ethics -- Europe -- Periodicals; 174.4
• DOI: 10.1111/beer.12270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8770

Abstract

Abstract: This study uses a moderated mediation model to investigate the role of leaders' moral courage and guilt in promoting group‐level organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Based on the idea that leaders model ethical behavior among followers, we examine whether leaders' display of morally laden emotions weaken follower perceptions of ethical leadership, thus disrupting the influence of moral courage on followers. Two independent studies examined the proposed model. Study 1 used an experimental design to examine leaders' moral displays, testing the interactive effects of leader moral courage, and guilt on follower perceptions of ethical leadership. Study 2 used a multisource field study with 100 leaders and 336 subordinates to explore how a leader displays of courage and guilt influenced group‐level OCB, mediated by ethical leadership. Consistent with our theoretical model, we find an indirect positive relationship between a leader's moral courage and group OCB. However, we also find that this effect is weakened by displays of guilt by the leader.