More than a feeling: An examination of mixed emotional expressions on leader evaluations and follower performance

Abstract

Leader emotional expressions are a central component of effective leadership and have received substantial attention in the leadership literature due to the interpersonal effects of emotion. This laboratory study (N = 266) compares the effects of discrete and mixed emotional displays on evaluations of leader competence, perceptions of leader communication effectiveness, and follower task performance. This study also examines the moderating influence of situation uncertainty and follower characteristics as well as the mediating effects of follower emotional reactions and cognitive inferences on the relationship between leader emotional displays and leadership effectiveness. Findings demonstrate that leader expressions of pride and positive mixed emotions (i.e., pride and interest) resulted in more favorable evaluations of leader competence and communication effectiveness compared to negative mixed, mixed valence, and anger displays. Furthermore, this relationship was mediated by both follower emotions and follower inferences concerning the appropriateness of the leader’s emotional display. In contrast, negative mixed emotions (i.e., anger and fear) elicited greater information processing in followers than mixed valence, positive mixed, and anger displays, and this information processing positively influenced follower task performance. Similar information processing effects were also found for pride when compared to positive mixed emotions. No effects were found for situational uncertainty or follower epistemic motivation and emotional intelligence. Implications and future directions for research on leader emotion and mixed emotions are discussed.