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How Servant Leadership Motivates Innovative Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Drawing on social identity theory, this study examines the effect of servant leadership on university teachers' innovative behavior through the self-concept constructs of perceived insider status and organization-based self-esteem, and the moderating effect of leader-member exchange (LMX). This moderated mediation model was tested with two waves of data from 269 university teachers in China. Results reveal that the self-concept constructs mediate the relationship between servant leadership and university teachers' innovative behavior. Moreover, LMX strengthens the relationship between servant leadership and the self-concept constructs, as well as the indirect effect of servant leadership on university teachers' innovative behavior through the self-concept constructs. Findings suggest that servant leadership is related to increased innovative behavior due to its positive influence on the self-concept of university teachers and it highlights the importance of developing a favorable supervisor-subordinate relationship.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134753

Authors: Jianji Zeng, Guangyi Xu

Institutions: Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, South China University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,429

Funder: Guangdong Pharmaceutical University