Personal Traits, Emotions, and Attitudes in the Workplace: Their Effect on Managers' Tolerance of Ambiguity

Abstract

This article examines the influence of personal traits, emotions, and attitudes in managers' tolerance of ambiguity. The research sample consists of 412 Greek banks' middle-level managers. Results of principal components analysis indicate that three factors characterize managers' emotions: pleasure, arousal, and dominance; and two factors characterize their involvement: importance and interest. Regression results reveal the influence of locus of control, pleasure, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and importance in managers' tolerance of ambiguity. Last, the article discusses the research findings and proposes certain policies for enhancing managers' ambiguity tolerance and, thus, their performance during change.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Greek banks' administrations that facilitate the research and the managers for their participation.