Influence of ethical leadership on innovative work behavior: Examination of individual-level psychological mediators

This research aims to empirically examine the influence of ethical leadership on innovative work behavior by focusing on meaning; self-efficacy; self-determination; and, self-impact as individual-level psychological mediators of the proposed relationship. Present study used a sample of 508 researchers working in ten government research institutions of Pakistan. To analyze data for this cross-sectional study PROCESS, an addon to SPSS was used. The study reveals significant positive influence of ethical leadership on innovative work behavior that was partially mediated by meaning; selfefficacy; self-determination; and, self-impact. The results are noteworthy as providing deeper insight of ethical leadership and innovative work behavior relationship via examining individual-level psychological mediators. Particularly, these findings are valuable for public sector practitioners who want to understand basic psychological processes for encouraging innovative work behavior of followers. Furthermore, present empirical research will assist scholars focusing on individual level outcomes of ethical leadership.