Team creative performance : the roles of empowering leadership, creative-related motivation, and task interdependence

Abstract

Drawing on theories of self-determination, leadership, and creativity, this study developed and tested a conceptual model that aligns empowering leadership with team creativity by simultaneously testing the mediating effects of team self-concordance and team creative efficacy. The results from survey data from managers and workers in mainland China reveal that empowering leadership positively influenced team creativity via team self-concordance and team creative efficacy. In addition, the moderation-mediation path analysis indicated that team task interdependence strengthened the direct effects of empowering leadership on team self-concordance and team creative efficacy, as well as its indirect effect on team creativity. Empowering leadership includes leading by example, coaching, participative decision making, informing, and showing concern. By implication, managers should identify tasks that require teamwork (such as guest service) and then make every effort to empower employees and improve their task interdependence.