An examination of leader political skill and its effect on ratings of leader effectiveness

We examine the multidimensionality and level of analysis issues of the leader skill political construct and test its effect on leader effectiveness ratings using administrative personnel from a public school district. Using a target report measure, our results show that a subordinate's perceptions of leader political skill exhibit two dimensions and that it exists primarily as a within-group phenomena. Perceptions of leader political skill also significantly predicted leader effectiveness ratings after controlling for leader demographic and social skill variables. The implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.