Self-Made Success: Follower Development Through Mindset Shifts

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Abstract: This experimental study (n = 160) explored the malleability of followers' self-schemas through self-directed associative conditioning (AC) using a mobile application. We demonstrate that individuals' self-schemas (implicit followership theories) can be modified, offering a practical protocol for follower training and development. The results showed that participants conditioned with positive implicit followership theories (PIFTs) perceived themselves more positively as followers with higher general self-efficacy (GSE) and personal mastery (PM) than the control group. This study revealed a positive correlation between PIFTs and GSE, indicating higher self-efficacy with positive implicit beliefs about followership. In addition, GSE mediated the relationship between PIFTs and PM, underscoring the impact of followers' self-beliefs on their sense of control and mastery. These findings contribute valuable insights to the socio-cognitive branch of leadership, challenging traditional notions of implicit followership theories as fixed schemas. This research has significant implications for using AC as an intervention to create self-fulfilling prophecy effects and understanding schema changes in professional development.