Transformations  in
Business & Economics

HOW CAN PATERNALISTIC LEADERSHIP PROMOTE SUBORDINATE TAKING CHARGE IN CHINA? THE ROLE OF INSIDER STATUS AND TRADITIONALITY
Weichen Shen, Xinhai Lu, Hao Sun, Chunyan Xu, Shuqin Zhou

ABSTRACT. This paper focuses on how paternalistic leadership impacts subordinates taking charge (TC) in the context of Confucianism. An interpretation model based on the dual-path of relationship-oriented and task-oriented is tested using hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap method. The results show that benevolent leadership has a significant positive correlation with TC, and the perceived insider status plays a mediating role. In contrast with the previous literature, this research finds that the moderating roles of authoritarian leadership and traditionality in the dual paths both have two sides. Therefore, we suggest that managers choose different leadership strategies according to different paths and objects. This research reveals the internal mechanism and boundary conditions of paternalistic leadership on TC, which helps understand China's management practice and provides insights into how leaders motivate subordinates TC.

KEYWORDS:  paternalistic leadership, TC, impact, insider status, Chinese traditionality.

JEL classification:  M12, M50, O15.