Thriving supervisor-subordinate relationship: a learning perspective on how cognitive trust transforms to affective trust

Purpose From the learning perspective, our research aims to explore how rational evaluations influence relationship dynamics by investigating the transformation mechanism from subordinates' cognitive trust in supervisors to affective trust. Design/methodology/approach We tested hypotheses using structural equation modeling with a multi-wave and multi-source field survey of 217 supervisor-subordinate dyads from an insurance company in China. Findings Subordinates' cognitive trust in supervisors transforms into affective trust through behaviors of advice seeking and knowledge sharing and then relational attachment. Additionally, supervisors' cognitive trust in subordinates, as a complement to mutual cognitive trust, strengthens the transformation process. Originality/value Our research contributes to the existing literature by examining the impact of cognitive trust in supervisors on supervisor-subordinate relationship dynamics, offering insights into the developmental sequence between cognitive and affective trust and extending the learning theory by revealing learning as a mechanism for relational development beyond knowledge development.