Unlocking the relationship between environmentally specific transformational leadership and employees’ green behaviour: A cultural self-representation perspective

Abstract

Environmentally specific transformational leadership (ETFL) is a prominent stimulus of employees' green behaviour, but its mechanism continues to receive inadequate scholarly attention. A cultural self-representation lens was used as a basis for exploring the mediating role of employees' green self-concept (i.e. green self-identity and green self-efficacy) and the moderating role of employees' man–nature orientation in the relationship between ETFL and employees' green behaviour. To examine these hypotheses, a three-wave survey of 362 employees was conducted in Southern China. Results from hierarchical regressions supported the mediating effect via employees' green self-identity, and this effect is more salient when employees have a stronger man–nature orientation. These results suggest practical implications for shaping and employing ETFL to cultivate employees’ green self-identity, thereby supporting their green behaviour, particularly for those with a stronger man–nature orientation.