Character matters: The network structure of leader character and its relation to follower positive outcomes

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between self-ratings of leader character and follower positive outcomes—namely, subjective well-being, resilience, organizational commitment, and work engagement—in a public-sector organization using a time-lagged cross-sectional design involving 188 leader—follower dyads and 22 offices. Our study is an important step forward in the conceptual development of leader character and the application of character to enhance workplace practices. We combined confirmatory factor analysis and network-based analysis to determine the factorial and network structure of leader character. The findings revealed that a model of 11 inter-correlated leader character dimensions fit the data better than a single-factor model. Further, judgment appeared as the most central dimension in a network comprising the 11 character dimensions. Moreover, in a larger network of partial correlations, two ties acted as bridges that link leader character to follower positive outcomes: judgment and drive. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.