Neuroticism and locus of control as moderators of
the relationships of charismatic and autocratic
leadership with burnout
De Hoogh, A. H., & Den Hartog, D. N. (2009)
Summary
● Aim of the article: examine the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship
between leader behavior and burnout.
● Method: two samples, employees filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory General
Survey and rated their leader’s autocratic and charismatic leader behavior and their
own neuroticism and internal work locus of control.
● Results: neuroticism and internal work locus of control moderated the relationship
between leader behavior and burnout. Charisma was associated with lower burnout,
particularly for individuals low on internal locus. The relationship between autocratic
leadership and burnout was positive for neurotic individuals, whereas for emotionally
stable individuals this relationship weakened.
Introduction
● Burnout is associated with negative consequences for employees (reduces productivity
and commitment) and organisations (increases turnover and absenteeism).
● Aim of the article: investigate if follower traits affect the relationship between leadership
and burnout
○ Trait 1: neuroticism
○ Trait 2: internal work locus of control
Leadership and burnout
● Burnout = a psychological response to chronic work stress combining emotional
exhaustion, depersonalization (also labeled cynicism), and reduced personal
accomplishment (or professional efficacy).
○ Emotional exhaustion: emotional resources being depleted.
○ Depersonalization: a detached and cynical response to the job and others
associated with it.
○ Reduced personal accomplishment: no longer feeling effective in fulfilling job
responsibilities.
1
, ● Charismatic leaders:
○ Articulate an attractive vision and act to reinforce the values inherent in the
vision.
○ Infuse work with meaning and inspire followers to transcend self-interest for the
sake of the collective.
○ Positive relationships of charisma with outcomes such as commitment and
organizational citizenship behaviour
○ Charisma is expected to be negatively related to burnout
○ Charisma gives followers an energizing sense of purpose, empowers, and
helps them believe they can achieve goals
○ Also, facilitate subordinates’ positive emotions and reframe stressful situations
as opportunities for growth -> These positive effects on motivation and affect
suggest that charismatic leaders create a context that decreases burnout.
● Autocratic leaders:
○ Limit subordinates’ input in decisions
○ Are dominating and pushy
○ Show little respect for others’ opinions and values
○ Decrease subordinates’ satisfaction and motivation
○ Autocratic leadership should relate positively to burnout.
○ Autocratic leaders limit self-determination and autonomy and push followers to
accept the leader’s ideas rather than pursue their own -> will decrease
subordinates’ sense of control and goal striving and increase powerlessness.
○ Burnout is positively linked to powerlessness and a lack of voice and control
○ Autocratic leaders are low on consideration and support, and low supervisor
support is related to burnout. Combined, these findings suggest autocratic
leadership increases burnout.
The moderating roles of follower characteristics
● Followers’ personality affects their preferences for different types of leaders.
○ This is supported by early models such as path-goal theory and substitutes for
leadership that suggested individual differences affect reactions to leaders
● Charismatic leaders do not affect all followers equally as follower predispositions will
determine whether charisma has more or less positive outcomes.
● This research suggests follower traits may also affect burnout reactions to leadership.
○ Affect and work motivation play a role in burnout, and charismatic and
autocratic leadership both influence followers’ emotional responses and
motivation -> affective and motivational traits moderate follower reactions to
charismatic and autocratic leadership in terms of burnout
● Affective traits such as neuroticism can trigger followers’ emotionality and emotional
responses. Neurotic individuals tend to experience negative emotions and moods ->
research showed that neuroticism is related to negative emotional reactions such as
strain and burnout
● Followers’ motivation to gain personal agency and control is also likely to affect
reactions to leadership. Motivational traits involve “the strength of motives to approach,
pursue, and attain rewards or incentives”
2
the relationships of charismatic and autocratic
leadership with burnout
De Hoogh, A. H., & Den Hartog, D. N. (2009)
Summary
● Aim of the article: examine the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship
between leader behavior and burnout.
● Method: two samples, employees filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory General
Survey and rated their leader’s autocratic and charismatic leader behavior and their
own neuroticism and internal work locus of control.
● Results: neuroticism and internal work locus of control moderated the relationship
between leader behavior and burnout. Charisma was associated with lower burnout,
particularly for individuals low on internal locus. The relationship between autocratic
leadership and burnout was positive for neurotic individuals, whereas for emotionally
stable individuals this relationship weakened.
Introduction
● Burnout is associated with negative consequences for employees (reduces productivity
and commitment) and organisations (increases turnover and absenteeism).
● Aim of the article: investigate if follower traits affect the relationship between leadership
and burnout
○ Trait 1: neuroticism
○ Trait 2: internal work locus of control
Leadership and burnout
● Burnout = a psychological response to chronic work stress combining emotional
exhaustion, depersonalization (also labeled cynicism), and reduced personal
accomplishment (or professional efficacy).
○ Emotional exhaustion: emotional resources being depleted.
○ Depersonalization: a detached and cynical response to the job and others
associated with it.
○ Reduced personal accomplishment: no longer feeling effective in fulfilling job
responsibilities.
1
, ● Charismatic leaders:
○ Articulate an attractive vision and act to reinforce the values inherent in the
vision.
○ Infuse work with meaning and inspire followers to transcend self-interest for the
sake of the collective.
○ Positive relationships of charisma with outcomes such as commitment and
organizational citizenship behaviour
○ Charisma is expected to be negatively related to burnout
○ Charisma gives followers an energizing sense of purpose, empowers, and
helps them believe they can achieve goals
○ Also, facilitate subordinates’ positive emotions and reframe stressful situations
as opportunities for growth -> These positive effects on motivation and affect
suggest that charismatic leaders create a context that decreases burnout.
● Autocratic leaders:
○ Limit subordinates’ input in decisions
○ Are dominating and pushy
○ Show little respect for others’ opinions and values
○ Decrease subordinates’ satisfaction and motivation
○ Autocratic leadership should relate positively to burnout.
○ Autocratic leaders limit self-determination and autonomy and push followers to
accept the leader’s ideas rather than pursue their own -> will decrease
subordinates’ sense of control and goal striving and increase powerlessness.
○ Burnout is positively linked to powerlessness and a lack of voice and control
○ Autocratic leaders are low on consideration and support, and low supervisor
support is related to burnout. Combined, these findings suggest autocratic
leadership increases burnout.
The moderating roles of follower characteristics
● Followers’ personality affects their preferences for different types of leaders.
○ This is supported by early models such as path-goal theory and substitutes for
leadership that suggested individual differences affect reactions to leaders
● Charismatic leaders do not affect all followers equally as follower predispositions will
determine whether charisma has more or less positive outcomes.
● This research suggests follower traits may also affect burnout reactions to leadership.
○ Affect and work motivation play a role in burnout, and charismatic and
autocratic leadership both influence followers’ emotional responses and
motivation -> affective and motivational traits moderate follower reactions to
charismatic and autocratic leadership in terms of burnout
● Affective traits such as neuroticism can trigger followers’ emotionality and emotional
responses. Neurotic individuals tend to experience negative emotions and moods ->
research showed that neuroticism is related to negative emotional reactions such as
strain and burnout
● Followers’ motivation to gain personal agency and control is also likely to affect
reactions to leadership. Motivational traits involve “the strength of motives to approach,
pursue, and attain rewards or incentives”
2
