Value congruence and satisfaction with a leader: an examination of the role of interaction

The relationship between the behavior of leaders and the values of group members was investigated by surveying 63 bank executives, 61 evening MBA students, and 102 full-time undergraduate students. The subjects were asked to complete a work values survey and view one of two videotapes of leadership behavior. The results indicated that there was a relationship between increased anticipated satisfaction with the leader and the congruence between the values of the subject and the rated values of the leader. This effect appeared to be contingent on the subjects' high level of previous experience with the type of leadership behavior demonstrated.