STRUGGLING TO MEET THE BAR: OCCUPATIONAL PROGRESS FAILURE AND INFORMAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR

We integrate theory and research about individuals' responses to failures and develop a model in which occupational progress failures precipitate ruminative processes that limit the extent to which individuals subsequently act as informal leaders. Our first study, an experiment with a sample of advanced accounting students, found that manipulating poor performance on a simulated certification test promoted ruminative thoughts about the test, which were negatively related to peer ratings of informal leadership behavior during a subsequent task. A separate field study using a regression discontinuity design in a 14-week military training program found that failure to pass the required physical fitness examination early in group formation influenced psychosomatic symptoms-an indirect measure of sustained rumination-and consequently hindered enactment of informal leadership behavior. We also theorized and found that neuroticism enhanced the positive effect of failure on rumination in Study 1 and psychosomatic symptoms in Study 2. We discuss the implications for developing theories concerning how disruptive personal events may interfere with employees' engaging in informal leadership behavior.