Group Size, Leadership Behavior, and Subordinate Satisfaction

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Abstract
The results of a meta-analytic integration of previous research on the interrelations between group size, leadership behavior, and subordinate satisfaction are reported. The following patterns emerged from eight studies conducted in the United States: As the work group gets larger, the leader is more likely to engage in initiating structure behaviors but no more likely to engage in consideration behaviors, and subordinates are more likely to be dissatisfied; as the leader engages in more leadership behaviors (of either type), subordinates are more likely to be satisfied. These patterns were moderated to some extent by the average occupational income, the average age of the work group, the percent of the work group that was female, and the percent of the work group that was Black. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, and fruitful directions for future research are suggested.