Double-edged sword effect of servant leadership on employee creativity

Mediation–moderation analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID15345779
AuthorsHui Wang (0000-0001-5109-8691, Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, China, corresponding author), Xueshuang Chen (Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, China), Jian Zhu (0000-0003-0532-4269, Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, China), Xiangqing Li (0000-0003-4820-6334, Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, China)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue4
Pages328-336
Publication date2023-07-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychology in Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1433-0237 • E-ISSN: 1815-5626
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14330237.2023.2219557
OpenAlexW4386543127
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited48

Drawing on social information processing theory (SIPT), this study examines the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and follower dependency on the relationship between servant leadership and employee creativity, focusing on task uncertainty moderation. Data was collected from 338 employees in Chinese manufacturing companies (females = 62.1%, 21–40 years old = 91.1%, bachelor’s degree or above = 86.1%). The employees completed two waves of surveys two weeks apart. Findings from a structural equation model indicate that higher servant leadership was associated with higher employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. However, high servant leadership was associated with low employee creativity through follower dependency. Creative self-efficacy mediation between servant leadership and employee creativity was stronger than follower dependency. Task uncertainty strengthened the indirect effect of servant leadership on employee creativity via creative self-efficacy and follower dependency. From these findings, it appears that servant leadership has a double-edged sword effect on employee creativity

Creativity · Economics · Leadership style · Management · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Moderation · Servant leadership · Social science · Sociology · Structural equation modeling · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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