Follower psychological need satisfaction as a mediator between leader and follower use of emotions and follower job performance

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to test whether follower psychological need satisfaction, a key variable in the self-determination theory (SDT), mediates between both follower and leader use of emotions and follower job performance.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors surveyed health-care professionals who were employed by various organizations, and at the same time, were enrolled in a bachelor and part-time MSc program at an Indonesian university (N = 220). Structural equation modeling was used to test the two hypothesized mediation effects.

Findings: The results show that to get high follower job performance, both leaders and followers must be proficient in using their own emotions in constructive ways. Both significant associations were mediated by follower psychological need satisfaction. In addition, follower use of emotions was also directly related to follower job performance, indicating partial mediation.

Originality/value: By examining the emotional intelligence dimension “use of emotions” by both followers and their leaders, and by pointing to the importance of the constructive use of their emotions at work, the authors extend the SDT. Two probable affective mechanisms, which precede the job performance effects of satisfying followers’ psychological needs, were identified from the results.