How a grateful leader trait can cultivate creative employees: A dual-level leadership process model

Chenwei Li; Chia Huei Wu; Michael E. Brown; Yuntao Dong

doi:10.1080/17439760.2021.1871941

How a grateful leader trait can cultivate creative employees: A dual-level leadership process model

Chenwei Li^*, Chia Huei Wu, Michael E. Brown, Yuntao Dong

^*Corresponding author for this work

Human Resource Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

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Abstract

Does trait gratitude shape leaders’ behavior and thus followers’ outcomes? We developed and tested a model linking leader’s trait gratitude to ethical leadership and leader–member exchange (LMX), and examine their impacts on followers’ felt psychological safety and thus creativity at work. Using multi-wave, multi-source survey data from 295 subordinates and 76 supervisors, we found that leader’s trait gratitude was positively associated with ethical leadership at the team level and LMX at the individual (follower) level. In turn, both ethical leadership and LMX contribute to followers’ felt psychological safety and ultimately improve creative performance at work. Our study extends gratitude research by examining how trait gratitude can shape leadership influence on followers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	389-399
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Positive Psychology
Volume	17
Issue number	3
Early online date	19 Feb 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1871941
Publication status	Published - 2022

Keywords

employee creativity
ethical leadership
LMX
psychological safety
Trait gratitude

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10.1080/17439760.2021.1871941

How a grateful leader_Li_publishedonline19February2021_Green_AAMAccepted author manuscript, 287 KB

https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/169437/

Cite this

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title = "How a grateful leader trait can cultivate creative employees: A dual-level leadership process model",

abstract = "Does trait gratitude shape leaders{\textquoteright} behavior and thus followers{\textquoteright} outcomes? We developed and tested a model linking leader{\textquoteright}s trait gratitude to ethical leadership and leader–member exchange (LMX), and examine their impacts on followers{\textquoteright} felt psychological safety and thus creativity at work. Using multi-wave, multi-source survey data from 295 subordinates and 76 supervisors, we found that leader{\textquoteright}s trait gratitude was positively associated with ethical leadership at the team level and LMX at the individual (follower) level. In turn, both ethical leadership and LMX contribute to followers{\textquoteright} felt psychological safety and ultimately improve creative performance at work. Our study extends gratitude research by examining how trait gratitude can shape leadership influence on followers.",

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PY - 2022

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AB - Does trait gratitude shape leaders’ behavior and thus followers’ outcomes? We developed and tested a model linking leader’s trait gratitude to ethical leadership and leader–member exchange (LMX), and examine their impacts on followers’ felt psychological safety and thus creativity at work. Using multi-wave, multi-source survey data from 295 subordinates and 76 supervisors, we found that leader’s trait gratitude was positively associated with ethical leadership at the team level and LMX at the individual (follower) level. In turn, both ethical leadership and LMX contribute to followers’ felt psychological safety and ultimately improve creative performance at work. Our study extends gratitude research by examining how trait gratitude can shape leadership influence on followers.

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How a grateful leader trait can cultivate creative employees: A dual-level leadership process model

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