Does Servant Leadership Promote Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Citizenship Behavior among Employees? A Structural Analysis

Kalpina Kumari, Jawad Abbas, Jinsoo Hwang and Lucian Ionel Cioca
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Kalpina Kumari: Faculty of Department of Business Administration, Greenwich University, Karachi 75500, Pakistan
Jawad Abbas: Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Jinsoo Hwang: The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Lucian Ionel Cioca: Faculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Blv. Victoriei 10, 550024 Sibiu, Romania

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: The last two decades have seen a conspicuous rise in the importance of leadership styles. Servant Leadership (SL) is believed to be a pioneering style of leadership that aims to serve others first. Based on the Social Learning Theory and Social Exchange Theory, this study investigates whether SL promotes Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) among employees. In this regard, it also examines what role the employees’ Emotional Intelligence (EI) plays between the two variables. A sample of 422 responses was obtained from the managerial and non-managerial staff service and manufacturing industries using a non-probability sampling technique. The data that was collected was analyzed using the PLS-SEM technique. The results indicated a strong positive relationship between SL and OCB. Moreover, the employees’ EI was also found to mediate the relationship between the two variables partially. The analysis showed that leaders who can serve their followers’ needs and expectations to the best of their abilities could promote and strengthen EI among their employees, which eventually boosted their followers’ behavior’s emotional and motivational aspects. This study suggests that managers adopt an SL style that fosters empathy and trust with their employees. Meeting their employees’ expectations and requirements may boost their EI, which helps them attract positive energy and create an atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration.

Keywords: servant leadership; emotional intelligence; organizational citizenship behavior; PLS-SEM technique; service and manufacturing industries; a structural analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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