The influence of the persuasiveness of the board of directors on the performance of the board of directors, by displaying positive and negative emotions

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of the persuasiveness of the board of directors on the performance of the board of directors, expressed in displaying positive and negative emotions, in board meetings of Dutch Water Authorities. To explain why board of directors may differ in their persuasiveness, this research conceptualizes the decision making of the board of directors in their monitoring role and top management as a negotiation process and draw upon the literature from social psychology that explains when individuals are more or less persuasive. The empirical results indicate that that the decision making between board of directors in their monitoring role and top management is not a negotiation process because more displays of positive or negative emotions by board of directors do not influence the performance of the board of directors.