Relación entre liderazgo ético y motivación intrínseca : el rol mediador de la creatividad y el múltiple efecto moderador del compromiso de continuidad

The purpose of this research is to consider whether ethical leadership influences intrinsic motivation, taking into account creativity as a mediating construct. Likewise, it is crucial to know how the commitment to continuity moderates the causal relationship between the variables studied. Lastly, the seniority covariate is included to review its role within the model used. Therefore, a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational-causal scheme is applied with a sample of 448 employees. Regarding the results, the commitment to continuity negatively conditions the link between ethical leadership with both creativity and intrinsic motivation. In addition, creativity significantly mediates the link between ethical leadership and intrinsic motivation. However, this mediation deteriorates when the commitment to continuity intervenes. The same goes for the direct relationship between ethical leadership and intrinsic motivation. Together, seniority is actively associated with creativity and intrinsic follower motivation. Finally, ethical leadership and creativity are related in a curvilinear way with a convex aspect according to the quality of the leader-follower interaction. The main practical implications have to seek to establish adequate training policies that educate new ethical leaders, taking advantage of both corporate values and the academic wealth of employees. In addition, it is possible to reduce the commitment to continuity through an ideological identification of the follower with the task and by expanding their participation in decision-making. Finally, promoting intergenerational creativity prevents conformity and increases learning.