Servant Leadership, Organisational Citizenship Behavior and Creativity: The Mediating Role of Team-Member Exchange.

Winifrida Malingumu,Emmanuel Babyegeya,Martin Euwema,Jeroen Stouten

doi:10.5334/pb.326

Winifrida Malingumu, Emmanuel Babyegeya + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.326

Copy DOI

Journal: Psychologica Belgica	Publication Date: Oct 19, 2016
Citations: 17	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Open University of Tanzania

Abstract

Using a multi-source field study design with 184 unique triads of employees-supervisor dyads, this paper examines whether servant leaders install a serving attitude among employees. That is, servant leaders aim to encourage employees to take responsibility, to cooperate and to create high quality interactions with each other (team-member exchange; TMX). We hypothesise that servant leadership will have an influence on Organisational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and creativity through team-member exchange. Two facets of OCB are distinguished: organisational citizenship behaviour towards individuals (OCBI), on the one hand, and taking up extra tasks that benefit the organisation (OCBO), on the other hand. The results show that servant leadership is positively related to team-member exchange, and that team-member exchange is positively related to OCBI, OCBO and creativity. The bootstrapping estimates indicated significant indirect effects of servant leadership on the three target variables through team-member exchange. The study’s findings add to the body of literature on servant leadership, OCB and creativity at the workplace, and underline the importance of creating favourable working conditions that foster positive and high quality team-member exchange. This study also broadens our understanding on the importance of co-workers on the relation between servant leadership and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and creativity.

Highlights

Citizenship Behavior and Creativity quo by engaging employees in finding creative solutions for existing problems (Hoegl & Parboteeah, 2007)
It examined the relationships between servant leadership and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) both aimed at organizations and individuals (OCBO and organisational citizenship behaviour towards individuals (OCBI))
We propose that effective and quality team-member exchange (TMX) is vital in the process of attaining OCB and creativity, which is an overlooked area of research that connects leadership, OCB and creativity

Summary

Introduction

Citizenship Behavior and Creativity quo by engaging employees in finding creative solutions for existing problems (Hoegl & Parboteeah, 2007). Servant leaders do emphasise integrity and the creation of long-term relationships with employees (Liden et al, 2008; Stone, Russell, & Patterson, 2004) and strive to empower their followers by integrating their ideas in the decision-making process This creates openness and a sense of communal sharing and psychological safety, trust and fairness in the working context (Hu et al, 2011; Kark et al, 2009; Liden et al, 2008; Schaubroeck et al, 2011; Sendjaya, Saros, & Santora, 2008; Van Dierendonck, 2011), leading to a strong high-quality dyadic interpersonal relationship (Ferris, Liden, Munyon, Summers, Basik, & Buckley, 2009). Servant leadership accomplishes what is promised and as a result is seen as more thoughtful, trustworthy, and reliable (Liden et al, 2008; Page & Wong, 2000; Stone et al, 2004)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion