The Mediating Role of Positive Psychological Capital between Perceived Leadership Styles and Workplace Advice Network Closeness

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore mediation by positive psychological capital (PsyCap) between perceived leadership styles (PLS) and workplace advice network closeness. Fifteen different groups with a composition of 20-25 members were randomly selected in small workplaces which reached a total sample size of 329 cases. Data were collected using a partly-borrowed questionnaire of 30 items (12 for total PsyCap; 18 for PLS) and a sociometric matrix to measure workplace advice network closeness. Results of the categorical regression analyses (CATREG) showed PLS moving from authoritative to laissez-faire reduced the closeness of followers in the workplace advice network. The same shift in the leadership styles from authoritative to laissez-faire improved followers’ PsyCap. Furthermore, an improved PsyCap of the followers tended to improve the closeness centrality. As advice is a very comprehensive term, further studies into knowledge sharing, flow instruction and directions may be carried out to advance the field of knowledge. Further, studies on how individual components of PsyCap affect closeness may also be considered.