Zhao H, Su Q, Lou M, Hang C, Zhang L. Does authoritarianism necessarily stifle creativity? The role of discipline-focused authoritarian leadership.
Front Psychol 2022;
13:1037102. [PMID:
36389495 PMCID:
PMC9645221 DOI:
10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037102]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A burgeoning body of research has shown that authoritarian leadership (AL) embodies the characteristics of "light" and "dark," meaning that it does not always have a negative impact on employees' creative activities. However, studies explaining this potential positive effect are insufficient. To extend the AL and creativity literature, we draw on self-determination theory and event system theory, and elicit discipline-focused AL and appointment event criticality to examine whether, when, and how authoritarian leaders affect employee creativity positively. With time-lagged data collected from 435 employees and their direct leaders in China, we found that discipline-focused AL has an indirect positive effect on employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. Additionally, appointment event criticality strengthens the positive relationship between discipline-focused AL and creative self-efficiency, and the indirect impact of discipline-focused AL on employee creativity through creative self-efficiency. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
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