Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Previous studies about the drivers of follower performance focused on leadership, and most followership studies have used a single perspective to investigate this topic from the followers' lens. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore whether, how, and when followers' perception of followership prototype-traits fit influences their job performance. METHODS: The study adopted a questionnaire survey (Study 1) and a scenario experiment (Study 2). First, in the questionnaire survey, we collected 72 leaders and 262 followers from 72 teams of 14 companies in China using a two-wave research design. Second, in the scenario experiment, we invited 160 undergraduates from a university in southwest China to participate in the experiment after verifying the effectiveness of the manipulated materials. RESULTS: (1) compared with the misfit, followership prototype-traits fit is more likely to stimulate followers' taking charge; (2) compared with low levels of fit, high-level followership prototype-traits fit is more likely to stimulate followers' taking charge; (3) compared with high followership prototype and low followership traits condition, low followership prototype and high followership traits condition is more likely to stimulate followers' taking charge; (4) followers' taking charge mediates the impact of the followership prototype-traits fit on followers' job performance; and (5) the impact of followership prototype-traits fit on followers' taking charge is more salient for male followers than for female followers. DISCUSSION: This study not only helps capture the bidirectional and complex process of the interaction between leaders and followers during the followership, but also obtains a more comprehensive understanding of how this interaction affects followers' behaviors and performance. The results have practical implications for improving followers' job performance by highlighting the effects of followership prototype-traits fit on followers' behaviors and performance.