Traditional values for applying abilities and leader effectiveness in China

Proposes that traditional Chinese values of leader as head can be useful in that they can promote applying abilities for mutual benefit for leadership and employees. A total of 200 managers working in organizations in Shanghai, China, indicated their traditional leadership values and level of applying abilities for mutual benefit with employees. A total of 200 employees working for these managers indicated their applying abilities with their manager and their manager’s leader effectiveness and their own job commitment. Applying abilities mediates between leader as head and leader effectiveness. Findings help to clarify that traditional Chinese leadership values involve support and relationship building, not necessarily domination and suppression. These results were interpreted as suggesting that Chinese managers and employees could develop effective leader relationships by strengthening their traditional values and orienting them to promoting applying abilities for mutual benefit.