Abstract
This study investigates the interplay between creative leadership, creative mindset, self-regulatory focus, and employee creativity in the telecommunications sector in Nanyang and Henan, China. Drawing on existing literature, this study proposes and tests a serial mediation model to elucidate the sequential pathways through which creative leadership influences employee creativity. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms driving creative outcomes in organizational settings by simultaneously considering multiple factors. Data were collected through structured, personally administered questionnaires distributed among 389 employees from various service sector organizations. Hypotheses were tested using convenience sampling techniques, with data collected at two different time intervals to assess the causal relationships between variables. The results indicated a positive association between creative leadership and employee creativity, with a creative mindset and self-regulatory focus mediating this relationship. Specifically, creative leadership was found to positively influence both creative and self-regulatory focus, which positively impacted employee creativity. These findings contribute to the existing literature by providing insights into the psychological processes underlying creative behavior in the workplace and by offering implications for organizational practices and interventions aimed at fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data will be available from the corresponding author upon request.
References
Aboramadan, M. (2021). Servant leadership and followers’ creativity: Does climate for creativity matter? Evidence-based HRM: a Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, 9(1), 78–94. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-01-2020-0012.
Al-Ajlouni, M. I. (2021). Can high-performance work systems (HPWS) promote organisational innovation? Employee perspective-taking, engagement and creativity in a moderated mediation model. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 43(2), 373–397. https://doi.org/10.1108ER-09-2019-0369
Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J. M., Pel, B., Weaver, P., Dumitru, A., Haxeltine, A., Kemp, R., Jørgensen, M. S., Bauler, T., Ruijsink, S. J. T. F., & Change, S. (2019). Transformative social innovation and (dis) empowerment. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 145, 195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.05.002.
Bakker, A. B., Petrou, P., Op den Kamp, E. M., & Tims, M. (2020). Proactive vitality management, work engagement, and creativity: The role of goal orientation. Applied Psychology, 69(2), 351–378. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12173.
Batool, F., Mohammad, J., Rahmah, A. S., & Ahmad, T. (2023). The effect of knowledge sharing and systems thinking on organizational sustainability: The mediating role of creativity. Journal of Knowledge Management, 27(5), 1251–1278. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-10-2021-0785.
Bertolotti, M., Carfora, V., & Catellani, P. (2020). Regulatory focus and the effect of nutritional messages on health and well-being: The case of red meat intake. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 12(1), 212–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12180.
Brown, T. A., & Moore, M. T. J. H. o. s. e. m. (2012). Confirmatory factor analysis. In Handbook of structural equation modeling (2nd Edition ed., Vol. 361, pp. 379). The Guilford Press.
Chen, L., Guo, Y., Song, L. J., & Lyu, B. (2020). From errors to OCBs and creativity: A multilevel mediation mechanism of workplace gratitude. Current Psychology, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01120-5.
Choi, D., Cheong, M., & Lee, J. (2020). Leadership influences? It depends on followers! The relationship between the Ohio State leader behaviors, employee self-regulatory focus, and task performance. Personnel Review, 49(2), 491–515. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-10-2018-0386.
Chughtai, M. S., & Khan, H. S. (2024). Knowledge oriented leadership and employees’ innovative performance: A moderated mediation model. Current Psychology, 43(4), 3426–3439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04502-7.
Collin, K., Lemmetty, S., & Riivari, E. (2020). Human resource development practices supporting creativity in Finnish growth organizations. International Journal of Training and Development, 24(4), 321–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12199.
Fellner, B., Holler, M., Kirchler, E., & Schabmann, A. (2007). Regulatory focus scale (RFS): Development of a scale to record dispositional regulatory focus. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 66(2), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.1024/1421-0185.66.2.109.
Fleck, E., & Asmuth, J. J. E. E. (2021). Building capacity for creativity: Rediscovering the inner superhero as a mechanism for developing a creative mindset for entrepreneurial problem-solving. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 4(1), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515127420912503.
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: Algebra and statistics. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313.
Gilli, K., Nippa, M., & Knappstein, M. (2023). Leadership competencies for digital transformation: An exploratory content analysis of job advertisements. German Journal of Human Resource Management, 37(1), 50–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022221087252.
Gong, H., Zhou, H., & Zhang, X. (2020). Creativity Booster: How Time versus Money impacts Creative performances. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 54(3), 733–740. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.399.
HairJ.F., Gabriel, M., & Patel, V. (2014). AMOS covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM): Guidelines on its application as a marketing research tool. Brazilian Journal of Marketing, 13(2). https://doi.org///ssrn.com/abstract=2676480.
Hargitai, D. M., & Bencsik, A. (2023). The role of Leadership in Digital Learning organizations. Emerging Science Journal, 7, 111–124. https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2023-SIED2-09.
Hayes, A. F. (2018). Partial, conditional, and moderated moderated mediation: Quantification, inference, and interpretation. Communication Monographs, 85(1), 4–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2017.1352100.
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43, 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8.
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.
Kamangar, F., & Islami, F. (2013). Sample size calculation for epidemiologic studies: principles and methods. Archives of Iranian medicine, 16(5), 295–300. https://doi.org///013165/aim.0010.
Kark, R., & Van Dijk, D. (2019). Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground: A multifocal review of leadership–followership self-regulatory focus. Academy of Management Annals, 13(2), 509–546. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2017.0134.
Karwowski, M. (2014). Creative mindsets: Measurement, correlates, consequences. Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts, 8(1), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034898.
Karwowski, M., Royston, R. P., & Reiter-Palmon, R. (2019). Exploring creative mindsets: Variable and person-centered approaches. Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts, 13(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000170.
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308.
Limeri, L. B., Choe, J., Harper, H. G., Martin, H. R., Benton, A., & Dolan, E. L. (2020). Knowledge or abilities? How undergraduates define intelligence. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-09-0169.
Liqun, W., Mingjian, Z., & Qiang, L. (2017). The influence of creative leadership on employee creativity: Scale development and validation. Management Review, 29(2), 129. http://journal05.magtech.org.cn/jweb_glpl/EN/Y2017/V29/I2/129.
Min, H. K., Hu, Y., & Ann, S. (2023). Impression management goals and job candidate’s race: A test of competing models. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 109, 103426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2022.103426.
Nguyen, T. P. L. (2023). Factors affecting innovative behavior of Vietnamese enterprises employees. International Journal of Innovation Science, 15(1), 186–203. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-09-2021-0166.
Paek, S. H., Sumners, S. E., & Sharpe, D. I. (2020). Teachers’ beliefs of creative children. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 54(3), 646–661. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.400.
Puente-Diaz, R., & Cavazos‐Arroyo, J. (2019). Creative mindsets and their affective and social consequences: A latent class approach. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 53(4), 415–426. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.217.
Rattanawichai, N., Wiriyapinit, M., & Khlaisang, J. (2023). The factors affecting innovative behavior: An employee Assessment System based on knowledge creation. HighTech and Innovation Journal, 4(1), 174–188. https://doi.org/10.14704/nq.2022.20.6.NQ22008.
Su, W., Lyu, B., Chen, H., & Zhang, Y. (2020). How does servant leadership influence employees’ service innovative behavior? The roles of intrinsic motivation and identification with the leader. Baltic Journal of Management, 15(4), 571–586. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-09-2019-0335.
Tidd, J., & Bessant, J. R. (2020). Managing innovation: integrating technological, market and organizational change (7th Edition ed.). Wiley.
Walker, A., & Derbyshire, P. (2020). The Role of HRD in Developing Capabilities for Creativity and Innovation at Work: A Multilevel Approach. In M. Loon, J. Stewart, & S. Nachmias (Eds.), The Future of HRD, Volume I: Innovation and Technology (pp. 115–141). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52410-4_5.
Weisburd, D., & Braga, A. A. (2019). Police innovation: Contrasting perspectives. Cambridge University Press.
Wilson, D., & Conyers, M. (2020). Developing growth mindsets: Principles and practices for maximizing students’ potential. Ascd.
Wu, Y., & Zhu, W. (2021). The role of CSR engagement in customer-company identification and behavioral intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 721410. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.721410.
Yadav, A., & Dhar, R. L. (2021). Linking frontline hotel employees’ job crafting to service recovery performance: The roles of harmonious passion, promotion focus, hotel work experience, and gender. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 47, 485–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.04.018.
Zada, M., Zada, S., Ali, M., Jun, Z. Y., Contreras-Barraza, N., & Castillo, D. (2022). How classy servant leader at workplace? Linking servant leadership and task performance during the COVID-19 crisis: A moderation and mediation approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 810227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.810227.
Zhang, Sun, S., Zheng, X., & Liu, W. (2019). The role of cynicism and personal traits in the organizational political climate and sustainable creativity. Sustainability, 11(1), 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010257.
Zhou, J., & George, J. M. (2001). When job dissatisfaction leads to creativity: Encouraging the expression of voice. Academy of Management Journal, 44(4), 682–696. https://doi.org/10.5465/3069410.
Zhou, Y., Yang, W., & Bai, X. (2020). Creative mindsets: Scale validation in the Chinese setting and generalization to the real workplace. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 463. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00463.
Funding
1. Research and Practice project of Higher Education Teaching Reform in Henan Province: Research and Practice of Core Curriculum Cluster Construction in Universities under the Background of Intelligent Teaching(2021SJGLX241. 2. This work was sponsored in part by Research and Practice project of Higher Education Teaching Reform in Henan Province: Research and Practice of Law Undergraduate Practice Teaching System Reform, (2019SJGLX378).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
This research was approved by the Research Committee of School of Education Science, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061 China in accordance with the inter-national ethical standards, Helsinki Declaration 1964 and its amendments.
Consent for publication
Informed consent was obtained from all individual adult participants included in the study.
Conflicts of interest/Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, B., Shah, T.A. & Shoaib, M. Creative leadership, creative mindset and creativity: a self-regulatory focus perspective. Curr Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06066-6
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06066-6