When a Leader Does Not Know How Their Humor Is Viewed by Subordinates: Exploring Relationships Among Leaders' Meta-Accuracy Deficiencies, Subordinate Negative Affect, and Group Identification

Abstract

Rather than a generalized appreciation of leader humor, we argue that leader humor may not always be effective, even when it is positive in nature. Drawing on theories of meta-accuracy, self-other rating agreement, and social identification, we explore how leaders' lack of meta-accuracy regarding their own humor is associated with subordinates' negative affect toward the leader and their sense of group identification. We operationalize a lack of meta-accuracy as a misalignment between leaders' and subordinates' perceptions of leader positive humor. Our study found that when leaders lacked meta-accuracy in assessing their own humor, subordinates experienced increased negative affect, which in turn negatively influenced group identification. Our research highlights the importance of leaders' meta-accuracy in their use of humor. Deficiencies in this area can lead to either excessive or insufficient instances of leader humor, which become negative events for subordinates. Furthermore, our findings suggest that, from the subordinates' perspective, it is not the content of leader humor that holds importance, but rather its quantity relative to the expectations of the subordinates.