Swift trust in leaders in temporary military groups

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Abstract
Purpose: The study seeks to illuminate factors that benefit, or do not benefit, the development of swift trust towards leaders in temporary military groups.Design/methodology/approach: The study group comprised 50 Norwegian cadets, 34 Norwegian military officers, 317 Swedish cadets, and 190 Swedish military officers. Data were gathered using a questionnaire which included two open‐ended questions on aspects which contribute to swift trust (and lack thereof) towards leaders, as well as Likert‐scale questions on temporary group characteristics, and a personality inventory.Findings: A qualitative clustering analysis of the open‐ended responses yielded a hierarchical model of aspects which contribute to swift trust (or the lack thereof) with the following two superior categories: individual‐related characteristics such as emotional stability and relationship‐related characteristics such as encourage involvement and creativity. The latter superior category covaried most strongly with ratings of the groups' performance.Research limitations/implications: The results need to be substantiated by further research in other professional groups and cultures.Practical implications: The findings can help leaders of temporary groups become more conscious of how they may affect the group members' development of swift trust.Originality/value: The hierarchical and detailed model of aspects which contribute to swift trust in leaders of temporary groups is new.

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