15917: Demanding Perfection: The Conflicting Effects of Leader Perfectionism Towards Followers (session 25630)

Drawing on self-regulation theory and the theory of repetitive thoughts, we propose that leader perfectionism toward followers has conflicting effects on followers. On the one hand, leader perfectionism toward followers could have adaptive impacts on followers’ goal progress and burnout via problem-solving pondering. On the other hand, it could have maladaptive impacts on followers’ goal progress and burnout via work-related rumination. Additionally, we suggest that leader consideration strengthens the adaptive effects of leader perfectionism toward followers on followers’ goal progress and burnout via problem-solving pondering and weakens the maladaptive effects of leader perfectionism toward followers on these outcomes via work-related rumination. The results of an experimental vignette study and a multiwave field study demonstrate that leader perfectionism toward followers is positively related to problem-solving pondering and work-related rumination. Also, problem-solving pondering and work-related rumination mediate the adaptive and maladaptive effects of leader perfectionism toward followers on followers’ goal progress and burnout. Furthermore, leader consideration weakens the effects of leader perfectionism toward followers on followers’ work-related rumination and subsequent goal progress and burnout. This research provides several theoretical and practical implications regarding leadership and perfectionism.

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