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The Role of Transformational Leadership in Developing Innovative Work Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Employees’ Psychological Capital

Author

Listed:
  • Saeid Karimi

    (Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517833131, Iran)

  • Farzaneh Ahmadi Malek

    (Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517833131, Iran)

  • Ahmad Yaghoubi Farani

    (Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517833131, Iran)

  • Genovaitė Liobikienė

    (Department of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, 53361 Akademija, Lithuania)

Abstract

Despite growing research on the significance of transformational leadership as a key contextual factor that determines innovative behavior, recent studies have not investigated the psychological mechanisms that link transformational leadership to employees’ innovative behavior thoroughly. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role the four dimensions of psychological capital—self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism—play in the relationship between transformational leadership and employees’ innovative work behavior. Data from 178 Iranian agriculture experts were collected and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that transformational leadership was related to employees’ innovative work behavior directly and positively. Furthermore, the results showed that hope and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship. This study fills a gap in the literature by clarifying the way the dimensions of psychological capital influence transformational leadership’s positive relationship to employees’ innovative work behavior in the public sector of developing countries. The results imply that to be innovatively effective, organizations need to manage both employees’ contextual (transformational leadership) and psychological (psychological capital) resources to enhance their innovative work behavior. The theoretical and practical implications were further discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Saeid Karimi & Farzaneh Ahmadi Malek & Ahmad Yaghoubi Farani & Genovaitė Liobikienė, 2023. "The Role of Transformational Leadership in Developing Innovative Work Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Employees’ Psychological Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1267-:d:1030272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hamran Amırlı & Ömer Okan Fettahlıoğlu & Necmettin Gül & Hasan Sadık Tatlı, 2025. "The Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment and Trust in Leader on the Effect of Inclusive Leadership on Innovative Work Behavior: A Field Study in the Textile Industry in Türkiye," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, December.
    2. Liao Dongxian & Hira Batool, 2024. "Influence of distributed leadership on employee innovative behaviour: the mediating role of psychological empowerment," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Huan Minh Nguyen & Bui Van Hoai Nam & To Tran Thanh Truc & Nguyen Vu Thao Ngan, 2025. "Predictors of Employees’ Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Effect of Supervisor Accessibility in Ho Chi Minh City’s Travel Agencies," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(2), pages 21582440251, June.
    4. Inocencia Mª Martínez‐León & Isabel Olmedo‐Cifuentes & Jorge Luis Sánchez‐Navarro & Narciso Arcas‐Lario, 2025. "Transformational leadership and performance in social economy entities: The moderating effect of board gender diversity," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 96(4), pages 793-819, December.
    5. Tae-Soo Ha & Kuk-Kyoung Moon, 2023. "Distributive Justice, Goal Clarity, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Moderating Role of Transactional and Transformational Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Yinan Shan & Tachia Chin & Nomagugu Mutsvene, 2023. "The Varying Effects of Four Components of Employee Psychological Capital on Sustainable-Business-Model Innovation in the New Normal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Issah Iddrisu & Bawah Mohammed, 2025. "Exploring the Impact of Leadership Styles on Organizational Effectiveness: the Mediating Role of Employee Motivation and Engagement," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 1111-1133, September.
    8. Kai-Ling CHANG & Lu-Ming TSENG, 2024. "The Impact Of Transformational Leadership, Career Adaptability And Creativity On Salespeople’S Reactions Toward Digital Transformation," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 14(3), pages 40-57, September.
    9. Diana Patricia Moya Loaiza & Juan Alcides Cárdenas Tapia & Cristian Leonardo García García, 2025. "Holistic Competencies and Employability: Diagnosis and Improvements for Higher Education in Ecuador from a Labor Market Perspective," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, October.

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