The influence of leadership affect on self -managing groups' affect and processes.

This study investigated the role of leadership affect in self-managing groups. Specifically, I examined the transference of affect from leaders to group members and subsequently, affective convergence in groups. I further examined the influence of group affect (as a result of affective convergence) on group processes: coordination, effort expenditure, and task strategy. After leaders' affect was manipulated, groups planned and executed a task. The transference of affect from leaders to group members was examined during the planning stage. Trained observers evaluated groups on group processes and performance. Results indicate that positive affect groups were better coordinated, whereas, negative affect groups exerted more effort. Furthermore, negative affect groups performed better than positive affect groups. The implications of these results and future research are discussed.PhDOccupational psychologyPsychologySocial psychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/132900/2/9990996.pd