CEO positive psychological traits, transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up and established firms

Suzanne Peterson; Fred O. Walumbwa; Kristin Byron; Jason Myrowitz

doi:10.1177/0149206307312512

CEO positive psychological traits, transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up and established firms

Suzanne Peterson, Fred O. Walumbwa, Kristin Byron, Jason Myrowitz

Management and Entrepreneurship

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

215 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among positive psychological traits (hope, optimism, resiliency), transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up (n = 49) and established firm (n = 56) contexts, using structural equation modeling. Results reveal that the positive psychological traits of CEOs positively relate to transformational leadership ratings. Furthermore, the extent to which leaders are rated as transformational fully mediates the relationship between the leaders' positive psychological traits and their firms' performance. Last, transformational leadership is more strongly related to firm performance in start-up than in established firms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	348-368
Number of pages	21
Journal	Journal of Management
Volume	35
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206307312512
State	Published - 2009

Keywords

CEO traits
Firm performance
Positive psychology
Transformational leadership

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Finance
Strategy and Management

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10.1177/0149206307312512

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examines the relationships among positive psychological traits (hope, optimism, resiliency), transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up (n = 49) and established firm (n = 56) contexts, using structural equation modeling. Results reveal that the positive psychological traits of CEOs positively relate to transformational leadership ratings. Furthermore, the extent to which leaders are rated as transformational fully mediates the relationship between the leaders' positive psychological traits and their firms' performance. Last, transformational leadership is more strongly related to firm performance in start-up than in established firms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.",

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AB - This study examines the relationships among positive psychological traits (hope, optimism, resiliency), transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up (n = 49) and established firm (n = 56) contexts, using structural equation modeling. Results reveal that the positive psychological traits of CEOs positively relate to transformational leadership ratings. Furthermore, the extent to which leaders are rated as transformational fully mediates the relationship between the leaders' positive psychological traits and their firms' performance. Last, transformational leadership is more strongly related to firm performance in start-up than in established firms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

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CEO positive psychological traits, transformational leadership, and firm performance in high-technology start-up and established firms

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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