Leader Impression Management Strategy and Subordinate Work Attitude in Nigeria: The Moderating Roles of Social Interaction and Perception

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating influences of social interaction and social perception in the leader impression management strategy and subordinate work attitude relationship, in the Nigerian telecommunication industry. Adopting a cross-sectional survey design and the questionnaire as the dominant research instrument, data were obtained from a sample of 306 employees from 6 firms that are operational in the Nigerian telecommunication industry. A total of 279 sets of the questionnaire were retrieved representing 91%. The emphasis on demographic characteristics of respondents wase on gender, academic qualifications, status and tenure. Due to the number of study variables, multiple regression analysis was employed for multivariate hypothesis testing, using the SPSS version 21 softw­are. Results indicate that social interaction and social perception moderated the relationship between leader impression management strategy and subordinate work attitude. The study concluded that leader impression management strategy leads to subordinate work attitudes, under the moderating influences of social interaction and social perception in the Nigerian telecommunication industry. The study recommends that managers in the focal industry, should be saavy in utilizing effective interpersonal skills when they interact with their subordinates for them to be perceived and evaluated positively. This will enhance good quality leader-member exchanges and provide basis for attitudinal and behavioural compliance.

Keywords: Leader Impression Management, Ingratiation, Self-Promotion, Exemplification, Intimidation, Subordinate Work Attitude, Job Involvement, Affective Job Commitment, Job Satisfaction, Social Interaction, Social Perception.