Unpacking the chain mediation process between transformational leadership and knowledge worker creative performance: evidence from China

How leader humor stimulates subordinate boundary-spanning behavior: A social information processing theory perspective

Based on social information processing theory, we provide a novel theoretical account of how and when leader humor influences subordinate boundary-spanning behavior. We develop a moderated mediation model explicating the mechanism of psychological safety and the boundary condition of subordinate interpersonal influence. Using multiwave data, we tested our research hypotheses with a sample of 452 members from 140 teams in a Chinese information technology (IT) company. Results showed that leader humor positively affects subordinate boundary-spanning behavior via increased psychological safety. Moreover, this mediated effect is stronger when subordinates have high interpersonal influence. These findings offer theoretical and practical insights into boundary-spanning activities and leader humor, which we discuss.

The influence of transformational leadership on work engagement in the context of learning organization mediated by employees’ motivation

Purpose

This study aims to focus on determining the influence of transformational leadership on work engagement as mediated by employee motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research findings are based on a quantitative analysis of a survey of 443 full-time employees working in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Great Bay Area (GBA) of China.

Findings

The positive perception of transformational leadership from employees enables them to accomplish tasks beyond expectations. With the help of structural equation modeling, this study reveals that the influence path of perceptions of transformational leadership on work engagement is partially mediated through employee motivation.

Research limitations/implications

Employee motivation is not the only mediating factor, other factors mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and work engagement. The problem of sample size and sampling collection, the survey only focuses on samples working in the GBA.

Originality/value

The analysis and results based on data from mainland China, especially the GBA, expands the boundaries of the role of transformational leaders in learning organization and provides additional data support and sources for future relevant research. At the same time, the study of the mediation models between leadership and work engagement also hints more potential possible mediation factors.