Better not look too nice? Employees' preferences towards (un)likeable managers

This is a member only resource

Become a Member » Log In »
Better not look too nice? Employees' preferences towards (un)likeable managers
The Leadership Quarterly
Author:

Recent research shows that all else equal most people prefer likeable colleagues. In this article two experiments are employed to analyze preferences with respect to (un)likeable
superiors. We thereby focus on perceptions of likeability based on appearance rather than as a behavioral characteristic which allows us to concentrate on the impact of quick unconscious evaluations in zero-acquaintance situations. The results indicate that all else equal managers of higher perceived likeability are less preferred than managers of lower perceived likeability. Such likeability-aversion emerges among male and female respondents affects male and female managers and holds both for preferences expressed from the perspective of employees (Experiment 1) or a HR department (Experiment 2).

Citation: 
The Leadership Quarterly 25 (2014) 875 – 884

Become a Member

The IOC is a global community of coaches.

Join

Contact Us

  • Institute of Coaching
  • McLean Hospital
  • 115 Mill Street, Mail Stop 314
  • Belmont, MA 02478
  • Phone: 617-767-2670
  • info@instituteofcoaching.org