Does motivation matter? How leader behaviors influence employee vigor at work
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 9 August 2022
Issue publication date: 9 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study supposes to provide new insights into the role of leader behaviors in motivating employees by examining how and when spiritual leadership and contingent reward leadership facilitate employee vigor at work.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from self-determination theory (SDT), the current study proposes that spiritual leadership intrinsically motivates employees, whereas contingent reward leadership extrinsically motivates employees – both of which subsequently improve employee vigor at work. The theoretical model was tested through a sample of 191 employees collected across three time points in China.
Findings
Results revealed that spiritual leadership positively facilitates employee vigor at work through enhancing their work enjoyment, and employees' need for achievement can amplify the effects of spiritual leadership. In addition, employees' performance-reward expectancy transmits the effects of contingent reward leadership on employee vigor at work, and leaders' performance expectations play a key role in strengthening the positive influences of contingent reward leadership.
Originality/value
Based on SDT, this study provides a comprehensive explanation of how and when two patterns of leader behaviors affect employee vigor at work. Therefore, the authors provide significant insights for leadership and work design in human resource management.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Research Planning Foundation Project of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education in China (Grant/Award Number: 20YJA630077).
Citation
Yang, F., Chen, G., Yang, Q. and Huang, X. (2023), "Does motivation matter? How leader behaviors influence employee vigor at work", Personnel Review, Vol. 52 No. 9, pp. 2172-2188. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-10-2021-0734
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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