Effects of leader behavior on subordinate's upward influence tactics and relationship between subordinate and leader

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the upward influence tactics employed by subordinates toward their immediate superiors (the leader) in relation to the cohesiveness of a given group, leadership behavior on the part of the leader, and leadership behavior on the part of the group's top leader. The survey involved a sample of 120 nurses. Each nurse was asked to complete a questionnaire, which was prepared on the basis of an earlier preliminary study. The results of the group survey were as follows (1) A nurse (the subordinate) generally gave play to the tactics of rationality and enthusiam vis-a-vis a democratically inclined head nurse (the immediate superior);(2) coalition behavior was widely practiced in groups that were highly cohesive, while higher authority was employed vis-a-visa democratically inclined top head nurse (the top leader); (3) the above-mentioned actions employing tactics of in fluence [(1) to (2)] had, in turn, an effecton the degree of response on the part of the head nurse (the leader) and on the ex post factor relationship between the two parties (nurse and head nurse). © 1992, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.