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The Taming of Machiavellians: Differentiated Transformational Leadership Effects on Machiavellians’ Organizational Commitment and Citizenship Behavior

Author

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  • Bonjin Koo

    (Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning)

  • Eun-Suk Lee

    (Chung-Ang University)

Abstract

This study seeks effective ways for managing employees with a high Machiavellian personality in organizations by identifying how to enhance their pro-organizational attitudes (organizational commitment) and behaviors [organizational citizenship behavior (OCB)] through transformational leadership (TFL). Drawing upon the dual-focused model of TFL, we suggest that exerting TFL upon employees high in Machiavellianism involves ethical dilemmas in that individual-focused and group-focused TFL have contrasting effects on leading pro-organizational attitudes/behaviors among these pro-individual employees. Analysis of data from 184 employees working in South Korea shows that Machiavellianism negatively relates to affective commitment, OCB toward the organization (OCB-O), and OCB toward individuals (OCB-I), but positively to continuance commitment. More importantly, the results reveal that group-focused TFL can effectively manage employees high in Machiavellianism by mitigating the negative relations between Machiavellianism and affective commitment and between Machiavellianism and OCB-O. However, individual-focused TFL strengthens these negative relations as well as the negative relation between Machiavellianism and OCB-I. This study thus shows that to lead employees high in Machiavellianism in a pro-organizational direction, group-focused TFL rather than individual-focused TFL needs to be employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonjin Koo & Eun-Suk Lee, 2022. "The Taming of Machiavellians: Differentiated Transformational Leadership Effects on Machiavellians’ Organizational Commitment and Citizenship Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 153-170, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:178:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04788-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04788-2
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