Leader Self and Means Efficacy: A multi-component approach

Leader Self and Means Efficacy (LSME) is conceptualized as leaders’ level of perceived capability to self-regulate their thoughts and motivation, draw from means in their environment, and act successfully across a span of leader challenges and tasks in their current context. We demonstrate the construct validity of LSME and test its relationship with outcomes over five studies and five diverse samples. In four of these samples we demonstrated validity in predicting leader motivation, contingent reward and transformational leadership behaviors, and performance in periods spanning up to 8-weeks in duration. Implications for future research on Leader Self and Means Efficacy and developing and testing the LSME construct and its application to practice are discussed.

► A new construct comprised of Leader Self and Means Efficacy (LSME) is conceptualized.
► LSME is tested for construct validity across five samples and five studies.
► Convergent, discriminant, nomological and incremental predictive validity are established.
► LSME predicts transformational leadership, motivation to lead, and leader performance.