Illegitimacy undermines leader creativity only under stable power

Power hierarchies are ubiquitous in human societies and can improve behavioral coordination, efficiency and individual incentives to climb the hierarchical ladder. However, when power differentials lack legitimacy or are unstable, power struggles and conflict may emerge, as low power people may try to seize power. Power struggles and conflict at the interpersonal level can impede interpersonal cooperation, increase interpersonal competition, and distract individuals from the task at hand (Greer & Van Kleef, 2010). Here we examined the interactive effects of legitimacy and stability of power differences at an interpersonal level, and found that under power instability, legitimacy did not alter the creativity of highpower individuals. Under power stability, however, more creative insights were achieved when power was legitimate rather than illegitimate. Implications are discussed.