Title: Leader favouritism in the organisation: a process view and managerial recommendations

Authors: Shih Yung Chou; Katelin Barron; Charles Ramser

Addresses: Dillard College of Business Administration, Midwestern State University, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308, USA ' College of Business, The University of Texas – Permian Basin, 4901 E. University, Odessa, TX 79762, USA ' Dillard College of Business Administration, Midwestern State University, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308, USA

Abstract: Despite the immense amount of literature addressing leadership, a shared understanding of leader favouritism is lacking. More specifically, the process of how leader favouritism develops once a new subordinate joins an organisation remains grossly unrepresented. In particular, this article addresses the stages by which leader favouritism develops. In stage 1, the leader favouritism developmental process begins with an initial leader-subordinate encounter and psychological contract establishment. In stage 2, the subordinate experiences initial turbulence, and the leader assists the subordinate. In stage 3, the subordinate establishes role legitimacy, and the leader offers acceptance. In stage 4, the subordinate seeks to pursue self-serving behaviours, leading to the leader giving into the self-serving behaviour. In stage 5, the subordinate attains role uniqueness, and the leader provides partial treatment. Furthermore, valuable recommendations that leaders can utilise to combat leader favouritism are discussed.

Keywords: leadership; leader favouritism; leader-member exchange.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2024.137641

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2024 Vol.17 No.2, pp.123 - 137

Received: 19 Jan 2023
Accepted: 18 Feb 2023
Published online: 02 Apr 2024 *

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