Feeling Ambivalent About Your Boss Hurts Your Performance Even More Than Disliking Them
June 29, 2018
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Summary.
When people have a good relationship with their leaders, they’re more motivated, they perform better, and they’re more likely to go the extra mile. When people don’t get along with their leaders, they tend to retaliate against them and the organization. But what about when people feel ambivalent or conflicted about their leaders? Researchers surveyed 952 workers and students to explore the effects of having an ambivalent relationship with one’s leader. Across three studies, they found that employees who rated their relationship with their leader as highly ambivalent performed worse in their jobs (as rated by their leader) than those who rated the relationship as low in ambivalence. This effect held even when employees rated their relationship as positive overall.Developing good relationships is a crucial aspect of leadership. Research shows that when people have a good relationship with their leaders, they’re more motivated, they perform better, and they’re more likely to go the extra mile to support their team. These positive effects have appeared across a wide range of jobs and cultures. Conversely, we know that when people don’t get along with their leaders, they tend to retaliate against them and the organization.