Neuroticism and Locus of Control as Moderators of the Relationships ofCharismatic and Autocratic Leadership With Burnout

摘要

This study examined the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship between leader behaviorand burnout. In two samples, employees (N = 91; N = 190) filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory—General Survey and rated their leader's autocratic and charismatic leader behavior and their ownneuroticism and internal work locus of control. As expected, neuroticism and internal work locus ofcontrol moderated the relationship between leader behavior and burnout. Charisma was associated withlower burnout, particularly for individuals low on internal locus. The relationship between autocraticleadership and burnout was positive for neurotic individuals, whereas for emotionally stable individualsthis relationship weakened. These results were consistent across two independent samples: one withindividual employee ratings of manager's leadership styles aria the other with aggregate ratings ofmanager's leadership styles among employees in diverse organizations. Thus, although charismatic andautocratic leader behavior may respectively act to hinder or enhance overload and stress, the relationshipbetween these leadership styles and burnout differs for followers with different traits.