A comparative research in aviation and health sector in the mediator role of political skill on the effect of the leader's personality traits on the workplace relationships quality

The aim of this research is to examine the mediator role of political skill in the effect of the personality traits of the leader on the workplace relationships quality through a field study on two different samplings determined in the aviation and health sector. Another aim of the study is to examine whether the perception of employees' workplace relationships quality varies or not according to demographic characteristics (gender, marital status, age, educational status, working time and job title). The samplings of the research consist of 384 employees working in aviation and 468 employees working in health sector. The quantitative research method was conducted in the study and survey technique was employed in order to data gathering for personality traits of the leader, workplace relationships quality, political skill and demographic characteristics in both sectors. In order to measure the personality traits of the leader, five factor personality traits scale consisting of 15 questions and five dimensions (extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, conscientiousness and agreeableness) developed by Lang et al. were used. To measure workplace relationships quality, three different scales were put together and a 23-question scale was formed. And to measure the political skill of the leader, political skill scale consisting of 18 questions and four dimensions, developed by Ferris et al. was used. In the research, during the the analysis phase of the data, SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 24 statistics programs were used. As a result of comparative analysis on data obtained from both the aviation and health sector, it has been determined that the personality traits of the leader affect workplace relationships quality and the political skill of the leader has an mediator effect in this interaction. At the same time, it has been observed that there were differences in the perception of workplace relationships quality of the employees according to demographic characteristics. Even though there are some minor differences, it has been observed that the results of both sectors were similar. It is thought that this research will contribute to the literature and studies about the concepts of leadership, personality traits, workplace relationships and political skill. Keywords: Leadership, Personality Traits, Five Factor Personality Traits, Workplace Relationships Quality, Political Skill