Chinese leader-follower flexible interactions at varying leader distances: An exploration of the effects of followers in school cases

摘要

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the Chinese leader-follower interaction model in school cases considering followers' effect at varying social distances. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a case study approach. Findings First, Chinese leader-follower interactions in school cases are flexible in practice. Second, within leader-follower flexible interactions, contradictory perceptions and field-of-work consciousness foster different behavior choices between leaders and followers. Third, perceptions concerning the proximity of leaders to followers are positively influenced in relation to hierarchical distinctions and negatively influenced owing to private connections. Finally, the perceived leader distance of leaders from followers further influences the contradictory perceptions and field-of-work consciousness of leaders and followers and positively influences the degree of flexible leader-follower interaction. Originality/value First, this study proposed a leader-follower flexible interaction model in school cases and the concepts of field-of-work consciousness and contradictory perceptions, exploring the active effects of followers in the leadership process to offer guidance toward better understanding the leadership process. Second, it was found that private connections between leaders and followers, as well as hierarchical differences, influenced the perceptions of both leaders and followers concerning leader distance in a Chinese context, and the influence of leader distance on leader-follower interactions was also analyzed.