Effect of chief executive officers as servant leaders on team project performance: A social learning perspective

Abstract

This study explored the mechanism through which chief executive officers' (CEOs) servant leadership style affects team project performance. We established a multilevel mechanism through which servant leadership exerts an indirect influence on team performance via team goal clarity and team process clarity. Participants comprised 100 CEOs matched with 572 middle managers, working at intelligence intensive companies. Our results show that CEOs' servant leadership, through its effect on team goal clarity, team process clarity, and team knowledge creation, had an indirect influence on team project performance. Thus, leadership selection and training programs should be developed for CEOs, and top leaders should stimulate employees' understanding of team goals and work processes.