1 A Meso-Model of Negative Affect Towards Leaders: The Effect on Organizational Endorsement and Cynicism

We present a follower-centric model of leadership that integrates multiple levels of analysis and includes meso-level processes in the form of emotional contagion. Focusing on negative emotions, we argue that leadership at the individual level is manifested in terms of the leader’s prototypical behavior, favoritism toward members, and affective displays. Drawing upon affective events theory and emotional contagion theory, we argue further that members ’ perceptions of a leader’s behaviors and affect associated with attributions of insincerity result in negative emotions. These spread to the other individuals, and are in turn reflected in the group’s affective climate and trust and, in particular, in the quality of leader-member relationships (LMX) and team-member relationships (TMX). These effects will ultimately result in disapproval of the leader and cynicism at the organizational level. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations of our model, and its implications for theory, research, and practice. Key Words: follower-centric leadership; meso-level processes; negative emotions