Ethical leadership behaviors are their own reward for leaders: a moderated mediation model
Journal of Managerial Psychology
ISSN: 0268-3946
Article publication date: 3 April 2024
Issue publication date: 23 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the benefits of ethical leadership behaviors for leaders themselves and the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of this effect.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a multi-time and multi-source survey design, data was collected from both leaders and subordinates across three waves.
Findings
Ethical leadership behavior was found to be positively associated with the leader’s moral pride, resulting in the leader’s higher in-role performance and perceived manager effectiveness. The effect of ethical leadership behavior was moderated by core self-evaluation (CSE), such that low-CSE leaders benefit more from these behaviors.
Practical implications
Organizations should encourage ethical leadership behaviors and educate leaders to develop moral pride from conducting these behaviors. Leaders with low CSEs can enhance their in-role performance and overall effectiveness by taking pride in their ethical leadership behaviors.
Originality/value
The field of study on ethical leadership has predominantly focused on the positive outcomes for recipients, yet it is imperative to examine the self-benefits for leaders as well. This study drew upon affective events theory to posit that ethical leadership behaviors generate moral pride in leaders, leading to improved work-related attitudes and performance outcomes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation of the Ministry of Education (Motivation Mechanism of Moral Behavior: Dual Logic Based on Moral Identity and Power Control, 18YJC630217) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71802022), awarded to Dr. Zhixing Xu, and a grand funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 72372012), awarded to Dr. Dong Ju.
Citation
Xu, Z. and Ju, D. (2024), "Ethical leadership behaviors are their own reward for leaders: a moderated mediation model", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 39 No. 4, pp. 483-498. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-02-2023-0120
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited