Research Article

How and when paradoxical leadership fosters employee innovative behaviours: The role of proactive personality and work engagement

Published in: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Volume 32 , issue 6 , 2022 , pages: 545–551

DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2022.2121484

Author(s): Liping Feng Renmin University of China, China , Mengyi Li Renmin University of China, China , Jianfeng Peng Renmin University of China, China , Shiyong Xu Renmin University of China, China , Wa Yang Renmin University of China, China , Dongying Luo Renmin University of China, China

Keywords: innovative behaviours , paradoxical leadership , proactive personality , work engagement

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Abstract

We investigated the association between paradoxical leadership and employee innovative behaviours, and the role of proactive personality and work engagement in the relationship. Participants were 514 employees of a large Chinese internet company (female = 259; mean age = 29.85 years, SD = 5.88 years). Following a moderated mediating model, results indicated that paradoxical leadership was associated with higher employee innovative behaviours via work engagement. Furthermore, proactive personality strengthened the effects of paradoxical leadership on employee work engagement and innovative behaviours associated with higher employee productivity. Specifically, the integrative leading style of paradoxical leadership was conducive to improve employee work engagement and innovative behaviours, especially for employees with high proactive personality.

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