Political Skill, Behavioral Integrity, and Work Outcomes

Abstract

This research examines the relationship of leader political skill to subordinate effectiveness through subordinates’ perceptions of leaders’ behavioral integrity, trust in leader, and subsequent work effort. Results among a sample of enlisted military cadets provided support for the majority of study hypotheses. Specifically, subordinates’ perceptions of behavioral integrity mediated the relationship between leader political skill and trust; moreover, while subordinates’ trust in their leader was not significantly related to their work effort, work effort was significantly related to objective performance. Our contributions to the political skill and behavioral integrity literatures are discussed in light of this study’s noteworthy strengths and limitations.