Linking knowledge hiding to extra-role performance:The role of emotional exhaustion and political skills

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between knowledge hiding and extra-role performance, while considering the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of political skill. Results based on multi-source, two-wave time-lagged data from 428 pair respondents (i.e. employees and their supervisors) show that employees’ persistent exposure to knowledge hiding episodes reduces their extra-role performance, because they become emotionally exhausted. Employees’ political skills buffer this harmful effect of knowledge hiding on emotional exhaustion though, such that this effect is mitigated when political skills are high. For organisations, this study accordingly identifies a key mechanism through which knowledge hiding can undermine the voluntary behaviours at workplace; and this mechanism is less forceful for employees with high political skills. Several practical implications are also elaborated.