Humor at work that works: A multi-level examination of when and why leader humor promotes employee creativity

Article

Zhang, Y., Yin, C., Akhtar, M. and Wang, Y. 2022. Humor at work that works: A multi-level examination of when and why leader humor promotes employee creativity. Frontiers in Psychology. 13 (Art. 903281). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903281
AuthorsZhang, Y., Yin, C., Akhtar, M. and Wang, Y.
Abstract

Although the role of leadership in fostering employee creativity has been extensively studied, it is still unclear whether and how leader humor affects employee creativity. Drawing upon cultural representation theory (CRT), we examined creative self-efficacy as a mediator and traditionality as a situational factor in the relationship between leader humor and employee creativity by analyzing a sample of 306 employees and 88 leaders (paired data) collected through survey questionnaire from firms based in Hubei Province, China, covering the industries of automobile, IT, and medicine. Following the multi-level examination, leader humor was positively related to employee creativity, and creative self-efficacy was found to mediate the impact of leader humor on employee creativity. Furthermore, traditionality moderated the effect of leader humor on creative self-efficacy, as well as the indirect effect of leader humor on employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. This study provides a social psychological explanation for the association between humor and employee creativity, deepens the current understanding of the influence process of leader humor. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed at the end alongside limitations and recommendations for future research.

JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Journal citation13 (Art. 903281)
ISSN1664-1078
Year2022
PublisherFrontiers Media
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903281
Publication dates
Online01 Aug 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted07 Jul 2022
Deposited18 Nov 2022
FunderMinistry of Education of China
Copyright holder© 2022 Zhang, Yin, Akhtar and Wang.
Additional information

We acknowledge the financial support from the Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education Planning Fund in China (18YJA630149).

Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/8v4w2

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
fpsyg-13-903281.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 184
    total views
  • 113
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

You have got a nerve: examining the nexus between coworkers' cyberloafing and workplace incivility
Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Zhang, J., Wang, Y. and Akhtar, M. N. 2024. You have got a nerve: examining the nexus between coworkers' cyberloafing and workplace incivility. Internet Research. p. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-09-2022-0700
Positive leadership and employees’ pro-environmental behavior: a meta-analysis
Zhang, Y., Duan, C., Zhang, J. and Akhtar, M. 2024. Positive leadership and employees’ pro-environmental behavior: a meta-analysis. Current Psychology. p. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06727-6
Antecedents and outcomes of enabling HR practices: The paradox of consistency and flexibility
Pak, J., Heidarian Ghaleh, H., Ma, Z. and Akhtar, M. N. 2024. Antecedents and outcomes of enabling HR practices: The paradox of consistency and flexibility. Human Resource Management Journal. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12571
Self-serving Leadership and Employee Knowledge Hiding: A Dual-pathway Model
Zhang, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, J., Wang, J. and Akhtar, M. N. 2024. Self-serving Leadership and Employee Knowledge Hiding: A Dual-pathway Model. Management Decision. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-05-2023-0831
Organizational Psychology in Asia
Malik, A. and Akhtar, M. N. 2024. Organizational Psychology in Asia. in: Bal, P. M. (ed.) Elgar Encyclopedia of Organizational Psychology UK Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 445-448
How and when negative workplace gossip influences service sabotage behavior? A study among hotel frontline employees in China
Zhang, Y., Yang L., Zhang, J., Akhtar, M. N. and Wang, Y. 2024. How and when negative workplace gossip influences service sabotage behavior? A study among hotel frontline employees in China. Chinese Management Studies. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-02-2023-0086
How and when supervisor bottom-line mentality affects employees' voluntary workplace green behaviors: A goal-shielding perspective
Akhtar, M., Zhang, J., Zhang, Y., Tang, J. and Yang, Q. 2024. How and when supervisor bottom-line mentality affects employees' voluntary workplace green behaviors: A goal-shielding perspective. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2877
Testing the Social Cognitive Model of Well-being among international students in China
Akhtar, M., Mahmood, A. and Işık, E. 2023. Testing the Social Cognitive Model of Well-being among international students in China. Current Psychology. 43, pp. 9944-9954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04962-x
Employee Voice: Insights from Pakistan
Aslam, M. M. and Akhtar, M. M 2023. Employee Voice: Insights from Pakistan. in: Adisa, T., Mordi, C. and Oruh, E. S. (ed.) Employee Voice in the Global South: Insights from Asia, Africa, and South America Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. pp. 183-206
A Comparative Study of the Work-Life Balance Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of the Nigerian and British Single Student-Working Mothers
Mordi, T., Adisa, T., Adekoya, O. D., Sani, K. F., Mordi, C. and Akhtar, M. 2023. A Comparative Study of the Work-Life Balance Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of the Nigerian and British Single Student-Working Mothers. Career Development International. 28 (2), pp. 217-233. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-10-2022-0280
Bad apples spoiling the metaphor? How and why self-serving leaders stir up counterproductive behaviors at work
Zhang, Y., Peng, S., Wang, J., Akhtar, M. and Wang, Y. 2023. Bad apples spoiling the metaphor? How and why self-serving leaders stir up counterproductive behaviors at work. Frontiers in Psychology. 13 (Art. 1008071). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1008071
Authoritarian leadership and cyberloafing: A moderated mediation model of emotional exhaustion and power distance orientation
Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Akhtar, M. and Wang, Y. 2022. Authoritarian leadership and cyberloafing: A moderated mediation model of emotional exhaustion and power distance orientation. Frontiers in Psychology. 13 (Art. 1010845). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010845
Negative Influences of Differentiated Empowering Leadership on Team Members’ Helping Behaviors: The Mediating Effects of Envy and Contempt
Sun, F., Li, X. and Akhtar, M. 2022. Negative Influences of Differentiated Empowering Leadership on Team Members’ Helping Behaviors: The Mediating Effects of Envy and Contempt. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 15, pp. 9-20. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S346470