Effect of managers' sleep quality on authoritarian leadership dynamics and employees' counterproductive behavior

Purpose

This study examines the antecedents and dynamics of authoritarian leadership and extends the effects of managers' sleep quality to employee behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of self-regulation theory, 513 unit day samples were analyzed using cross-level path analysis and a Monte Carlo simulation test.

Findings

Managers' sleep quality is positively related to authoritarian leadership and positive emotions play a mediating role. Authoritarian leadership is positively related to employees' counterproductive behavior. Managers' sleep quality affects employees' counterproductive behavior through managers' positive emotions and authoritarian leadership.

Practical implications

Individuals should learn to reduce stress and maintain a positive mood. Organizations should reduce employees' overtime work and work stress and find other ways to improve employees' sleep quality.

Originality/value

First, we considered authoritarian leadership to be dynamic and studied it on a daily basis. Second, we studied the antecedents of authoritarian leadership from the perspective of leaders' states (sleep quality and emotions). Third, we discussed the effect of managers' sleep quality on employee behavior.