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Participative Decision-Making And Informing As Antecedents Of Trust Through A Hierarchical Layer Of Leadership, Ross J. Jahnke

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This study investigated a potential path to foster trust in two levels of college and university leadership (direct leaders and senior leadership). Two direct leader empowering leadership behaviors (participative decision-making and informing) where explored as antecedents of trust. The population studied was full-time faculty members at mid-sized not-for-profit colleges and universities in the Great Lakes region. Direct leader’s participative decision-making related positively with trust in direct leader. Evidence of trust transfer through a hierarchical layer of leadership was also found. Direct leader’s participative decision-making related positively to trust in senior leadership, but only when mediated by trust in direct leader. …