Stimulating informal learning at work: The influence of leader-member exchange and goal orientation

Abstract

Employees’ participation in informal learning activities is important as it enables them to adapt to a rapidly changing work environment. In this study, we investigate learning goal orientation (LGO) and performance goal orientation (PGO) as possible mediators of the relationship between the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) and three informal learning activities: asking for feedback, knowledge sharing, and innovative behavior. To do so, we employed a longitudinal (three-wave) survey study (>143 teachers within 33 teams for every wave) conducted over a year. LGO partially mediated the relationship between LMX and asking for feedback, and fully mediated the relationship between LMX and innovative behavior. LMX also had a direct positive effect on knowledge sharing. In contrast, performance goal orientation appeared not to influence participation in any of the three informal learning activities. These relationships were consistent across all three waves of the study, even after controlling for past levels of each variable in the previous wave. We conclude that supervisors can encourage employees to adopt a learning orientation and engage in informal learning if they strive to maintain a high-quality relationship with them that is based on mutual trust and respect.