Positive team atmosphere mediates the impact of authentic leadership on subordinate creativity

Keywords:
authentic leadership, team atmosphere, trust, psychological safety, knowledge sharing, creativity
Abstract

We analyzed how authentic leadership (AL) predicts subordinate creativity, taking into account the possible mediator of positive team atmosphere. Participants were 69 team leaders and 335 team members working in enterprises in China. Subordinates reported their perception of there being an atmosphere of team trust and psychological safety at work, in addition to the AL of their supervisors, whereas supervisors rated employee creativity. The main findings were as follows: (a) AL positively predicted employee creativity through the mediators of both atmosphere of team trust and psychological safety; and (b) atmosphere of team trust and psychological safety positively affected teams’ knowledge sharing and, in turn, creativity. Our results enrich understanding of the processes through which AL improves subordinates’ creativity. By promoting AL and a team atmosphere of trust and psychological safety, organizations may enhance employees’ creative performance.

Author Biographies
  1. Hao Meng, Beihang University
    School of Economics and Management
  2. Zhi-Chao Cheng, Beihang University
    School of Economics and Management
  3. Tian-Chao Guo, Beihang University
    School of Economics and Management
References
Downloads
Published
2015-09-22
Section
Articles
License

Author(s) agree that copyright of an article published in SBP Journal is transferred from the author(s) to the journal publisher (Scientific Journal Publishers Limited) upon publication.

Disclaimer

Social Behavior and Personality maintains an open editorial policy and may or may not endorse the conclusions made in its published articles. Neither the journal nor its publisher, editors or staff assume any responsibility for any material considered to be offensive or defamatory, or for obtaining any copyright permissions necessary for publication of articles.