Individual Power Distance Orientation and Follower Reactions to Transformational Leaders: A Cross-Level, Cross-Cultural Examination

Abstract

Using 560 followers and 174 leaders in the People's Republic of China and United States, we found that individual follower's “power distance” orientation and their group's shared perceptions of transformational leadership were positively related to follower's procedural justice perceptions. Power distance orientation also moderated the cross-level relationship that transformational leadership had with procedural justice; the relationship was more positive when power distance orientation was lower, rather than higher. Procedural justice, in turn, linked the unique and interactive relationships of transformational leadership and power distance orientation with followers' organizational citizenship behavior. Country differences did not significantly affect these relationships.