We investigate how parental income during an individual’s upbringing \nrelates to his or her effectiveness as a leader after entering an \norganization. Drawing on research on the psychological effects of \nincome, social learning theory, and the integrative trait-behavioral \nmodel of leadership effectiveness, we propose a negative, serially \nmediated association between higher parental income and lower future \nleader effectiveness via high levels of narcissism and, in turn, reduced\n engagement in behaviors that are viewed as central to the leadership \nrole. We test our model using multisource data collected from active \nsoldiers in the United States Army. Results reveal that parental income \nexerts indirect effects on leadership effectiveness criteria because (a)\n parental income is positively related to narcissism as an adult, (b) \nnarcissism relates negatively to engaging in task-, relational-, and \nchange-oriented leadership behaviors, and (c) reduced engagement in \nthese behaviors relates to lower leader effectiveness. Our investigation\n advances theory by identifying pathways through which parental income \nrelates to the effectiveness of leaders in organizations, and by \nilluminating the origins of a trait—narcissism—that predicts the \nbehavior and effectiveness of leaders.\n “,”outlet”:”Published Paper”,”journal”:”Academy of Management Journal, 59(6)
Published Paper, 2016
Academy of Management Journal, 59(6)
Page(s): 2157-2177
Abstract