The Mediation Effect of Ethical Leadership and Creative Performance: A Social Information Processing Perspective

Abstract

Drawing upon social information processing theory, the study examined how ethical leadership shapes creative performance. Specifically, we tested a theoretical model integrating the sequential roles of psychological safety and creative self‐efficacy. A two‐waved sample of 512 supervisor‐subordinate dyads from frontline employees of three service industries located in Ghana was administered. The results of the hierarchical linear modeling analysis revealed that there is a positive relationship between ethical leadership and creative performance and that psychological safety positively and significantly mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and creative performance. Similarly, creative self‐efficacy significantly and positively mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and creative performance. Moreover, both psychological safety and creative self‐efficacy sequentially mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and creative performance. We discuss the implications of these results for research and practice.

The influence of ethical leadership and team learning on team performance in software development projects

“…Recently, researchers have focussed on ethical leadership because this behaviour is instrumental in the effective functioning of organisations and also influences employee attitudes, behaviour and performance (Wadei et al, 2020;Lin et al, 2019;Liu et al, 2019;Sosik et al, 2019;Bavik et al, 2018;Walumbwa et al, 2017;Huang and Paterson, 2017). Ethical leadership refers to the presentation and encouragement of normatively appropriate behaviour (Brown et al, 2005).…”

Humor of the Leader: A Source of Creativity of Employees Through Psychological Empowerment or Unethical Behavior Through Perceived Power? The Role of Self-Deprecating Behavior

“…Data were collected from 512 employees working in service industries in Ghana. The results highlighted that ethical leadership influences performance through the mediating role of creative-self efficacy (Wadei et al, 2020). It was also indicated that the humility of the leader affects team innovation by drawing upon SIPT.…”

How and When Health-Promoting Leadership Facilitates Employee Health Status: The Critical Role of Healthy Climate and Work Unit Structure

“…For example, Boekhorst (2015) argued that authentic leadership can transmit social information about the importance of inclusion into the work environment through inclusive leader role modeling. In a similar vein, ethical leadership shapes employee creative performance because such leadership drives employee to feel respected and trusted to identify organizational problems, search for solutions, and come out with novel and useful ideas (Wadei et al, 2021). Health-promoting leadership not only focuses on direct health-related behaviors such as purchasing ergonomic office supplies, but also pays attention to some obscure behaviors such as emphasizing health awareness (Jiménez et al, 2017b).…”

“…By influencing the formulation and implementation of organizational rules and regulations, leaders can impact the relationship among members at workplace. In addition, leaders can manipulate or control other important factors that influence the formation of the climate through their own power and influence (Wadei et al, 2021). These factors have an impact on employees' attitude choice and behavior style.…”