Environmentally specific servant leadership and workplace pro-environmental behavior: A dual mediation in context of hotel industry

Abstract

Environmental issues are getting significant attention from academicians and practitioners. In this regard, a top to bottom integration of actions has become necessary to address these issues. Therefore, the present study addresses the question of fostering the pro-environmental behaviors from a leadership perspective. The study examines the relationship between environmentally specific servant leadership and workplace pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, the study examines the mediating effect of organizational support and environmental commitment. Since the study is designed in the context of hospitality industry, the population of this study comprises employees working in hotels. Following a positivist research philosophy, the study adopted a quantitative deductive approach. The questionnaire was developed by adapting previously validated measures. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed among the respondents, and 204 returned questionnaires were subjected to data analysis using SPSS and SMART-PLS. The results of the study revealed that environmentally-specific servant leadership positively influences environmental commitments, organizational support, and workplace pro-environmental behaviors among employees. Additionally, the results identified a positive significant influence of environmental commitments, and organizational support on workplace pro-environmental behaviors. It was also found that organizational support and environmental commitments significantly mediate the relationship between environmentally-specific servant leadership and workplace pro-environmental behaviors. Notably, workplace environmental behaviors were found to be moderately influenced by environment-specific servant leadership. It is concluded that leaders play a crucial role in determining the environment oriented behavior among the employees. The study offers valuable insights for both policymakers and top management of hotels to focus on servant leadership for fostering pro-environmental behaviors among hotel employees to achieve environmental sustainability.