Leader Humility and Challenging and Supportive Voice: The Role of Different Motivation

Abstract

Leader humility has recently emerged as an important topic for the development of organizations. Taking a motivational perspective, the present research investigates the motivational effects of leader humility, and uncovers how humble leaders influence subordinates’ different types of voicing behavior through triggering different motivations. By collecting data of 152 leader-subordinate dyads through survey method, the results revealed that, as predicted, leader humility was positively related with both employees’ prosocial motivation and organizational concern motivation. Meanwhile, these two motivations play mediating roles in explaining how leader humility can positively affect employee supportive voice and challenging voice. It is noteworthy that leader humility, which features interpersonal experience and highlighting value and strength of others, are more likely to trigger employees’ prosocial motivation and thus influence their voicing behavior. This research extends the theoretical understanding of leader humility, motivation and workplace voice. Practical implications and limitation of the results are also discussed.