Linking servant leadership to work strains: The mediating effect of strengths use

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between servant leadership and employees’ work strain, as well as the mediating role of strengths use in that relationship. Participants were 179 Chinese employees (female = 49%; mean age = 27 years; mean tenure = 2.28 years). Two dimensions of work strain, namely, emotional exhaustion and workplace anxiety, were measured together with perceived servant leadership and strengths use. The results of the structural equation model showed that servant leadership is negatively linked to employees’ work strain, suggesting that employees have better workplace health under servant leadership. Strengths use has a negative link with emotional exhaustion, but not with workplace anxiety. Workers with emotional exhaustion would draw on their strengths less. Strengths use mediated the relationship between servant leadership and emotional exhaustion, lowering the risk of emotional exhaustion risk. Finally, no moderation effect has been found in this study. Findings suggest that servant leadership training would be of strategic advantage to organisations for energising their employees for greater productivity.