A Comparison of Preferred Leader Behaviors in Slavic Countries: Three Tribes and Seven Nations.

This study investigates employee preferences for explicit leader behaviors across seven Slavic countries, grouped into three Slavic tribes: Southern Slavs (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia), Western Slavs (Poland, Czech Republic), and Eastern Slavs (Russia). Analyzing data from 2,542 participants using the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire, the research identifies significant differences in leadership preferences between tribes, with more similarities within tribes but some notable intra-tribal variations at country and regional levels. The findings suggest that Southern and Western Slavs exhibit higher expectations for relational and participative leader behaviors, influenced by their closer integration with Western cultural norms, while Eastern Slavs show lower expectations, reflecting quasi-authoritarian socio-political contexts. Overall, Slavic employees tend to prefer leaders who emphasize social harmony and representation over task-focused behaviors, highlighting culturally contingent leadership attitudes within these nations. The study contributes to cross-cultural leadership literature by providing a systematic comparison of leadership preferences in Slavic societies and calls for further research to deepen understanding of these complex cultural dynamics.