Autonomy Support: Explaining the Path from Leadership to Employee Creative Performance
Affiliation(s)
Dongling School of Economics & Management, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
Dongling School of Economics & Management, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
ABSTRACT
Today leaders are more like employee supporters than employee supervisors. Creating intentionally supportive and motivating environment, demonstrating concern for employees’ well being, providing opportunities for autonomy support, avoiding rewards that actually decrease motivation and performance in the workplace for employee to be creative and innovative is part of modern leadership. The aim of the present paper is to provide a deeper understanding of how autonomy-supportive leadership fosters positive employee outcomes by taking employee innate needs into consideration. For this purpose, self-determination theory (SDT) fits best for its consideration of both social context (i.e., autonomy-supportive leadership) and individuals’ basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) as antecedents of motivation and well-being. In addition, we will give leaders some implications and discuss the importance of providing autonomy support, making sure of having the supportive environments required, and explain a clear path from leadership to employee positive behavior.
Today leaders are more like employee supporters than employee supervisors. Creating intentionally supportive and motivating environment, demonstrating concern for employees’ well being, providing opportunities for autonomy support, avoiding rewards that actually decrease motivation and performance in the workplace for employee to be creative and innovative is part of modern leadership. The aim of the present paper is to provide a deeper understanding of how autonomy-supportive leadership fosters positive employee outcomes by taking employee innate needs into consideration. For this purpose, self-determination theory (SDT) fits best for its consideration of both social context (i.e., autonomy-supportive leadership) and individuals’ basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) as antecedents of motivation and well-being. In addition, we will give leaders some implications and discuss the importance of providing autonomy support, making sure of having the supportive environments required, and explain a clear path from leadership to employee positive behavior.
Cite this paper
Hocine, Z. and Zhang, J. (2014) Autonomy Support: Explaining the Path from Leadership to Employee Creative Performance. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 417-423. doi: 10.4236/jss.2014.26048.
Hocine, Z. and Zhang, J. (2014) Autonomy Support: Explaining the Path from Leadership to Employee Creative Performance. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 417-423. doi: 10.4236/jss.2014.26048.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9667-8_8 [2] Bass, B.M. (1990) Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership; Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications. 3rd Edition, The Free Press, New York. [3] Schultz, H. and Gordon, J. (2011) Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul. Rodale. [4] Amabile, T.M., Schatzel, E.A., Moneta, G.B. and Kramer, S.J. (2004) Leader Behaviors and the Work Environment for Creativity: Perceived Leader Support. The Leadership Quarterly, 15, 5-32.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2003.12.003 [5] Blais, M.R. and Brie Re, N.M. (1992) On the Mediational Role of Feelings of Self-Determination in the Workplace: Further Evidence and Generalization. Manuscript, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal. [6] Stahl, M.J. and Koser, M.C. (1978) Weighted Productivity in R&D: Some Associated Individual and Organizational Variables. Transactions on Engineering Management, 25, 20-24.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TEM.1978.6447271 [7] George, M. and Zhou, J. (2001) When Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness Are Related to Creative Behavior: An Interactional Approach. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 513-524.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.513 [8] Zhou, J. (2003) When the Presence of Creative Coworkers Is Related to Creativity: Role of Supervisor Close Monitoring, Developmental Feedback, and Creative Personality. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 413-422.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.3.413 [9] Christinna, E., Shalley, Zhou, J., et al. (2004) The Effects of Personal and Contextual Characteristics on Creativity: Where Should We Go from Here? Journal of Management, 6, 933-958. [10] Amabile, T.M. (1996) Creativity in Context. Westview, Boulder. [11] Amabile, T.M. (1988) A Model of Creativity and Innovation in Organizations. In: Staw, B.M. and Cummings, L.L., Eds., Research on Organizational Behavior, JAI Press, Greenwich, 123-167. [12] Vallerand, R.J., Pelletier, L.G., Blais, M.R., Briere, N.M., Senecal, C. and Valliéres, E.F. (1992) The Academic Motivation Scale: A Measure of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Amotivation in Education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1003-1017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013164492052004025 [13] Pajak, E. and Glickman, C. (1989) Informational and Controlling Language Insimulated Supervisory Conferences. American Educational Research Journal, 26, 93-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00028312026001093 [14] Zhou, J. and George, J.M. (2001) When Job Dissatisfaction Leads to Creativity: Encouraging the Expression of Voice. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 682-696.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3069410 [15] Zhou, J. and Shalley, C.E. (2008) Handbook of Organizational Creativity. Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale. [16] Frese, M. and Zapf, D. (1999) On the Importance of the Objective Environment in Stress and Attribution Theory. Counterpoint to Perrewé and Zellars. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20, 761-765.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199909)20:5<761::AID-JOB951>3.0.CO;2-Y [17] Deci, E.L., Ryan, R.M., Gagne, M., Leone, D., Usunov, J. and Kornazheva, B.P. (2001) Need Satisfaction, Motivation, and Well-Being in the Work Organizations of a Former Eastern Bloc Country. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 930-942.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167201278002 [18] Simon H. (1967) Motivational and Emotional Controls of Cognition. Psychological Review, 74, 29-39.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0024127 [19] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (1985) Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum, New York.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7 [20] Kovjanic, S., Schuh, S.C., Jonas, K., Van Quaquebeke, N. and Van Dick, R. (2012) How Do Transformational Leaders Foster Positive Employee Outcomes? A Self-Determination-Based Analysis of Employees’ Needs as Mediating Links. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33, 1031-1052.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.1771 [21] Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L. (2007) Active Human Nature: Self-Determination Theory and the Promotion and Maintenance of Sport, Exercise, and Health. In: Hagger, M.S. and Chatzisarantis, N.L.D., Eds., Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Exercise and Sport, Human Kinetics, Champaign, 1-19. [22] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (2000) The “What” and the “Why” of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227-268.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01 [23] Deci, E.L. (1975) Intrinsic Motivation. Plenum Publishing Co., New York.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4446-9 [24] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (1987) The Support of Autonomy and the Control of Behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1024-1037.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.53.6.1024 [25] Vallerand, R.J. and Losier, G.F. (1999) An Integrative Analysis of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 142-169.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10413209908402956 [26] Deci, E.L. (1971) Effects of Externally Mediated Rewards on Intrinsic Motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 18, 105-115.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0030644 [27] Deci, E.L., Eghrari, H., Patrick, B.C. and Leone, D. (1994) Facilitating Internalization: The Self-Determination Theory Perspective. Journal of Personality, 62, 119-142.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00797.x [28] Gagné, M. and Deci, E.L. (2005) Self-Determination Theory and Work Motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26, 331-362.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.322
[1] Gagné, M. and Bhave, D. (2011) Autonomy in the Workplace: An Essential Ingredient to Employee Engagement and Well-Being in Every Culture. In: Chirkov, V.I., Ryan, R.M. and Sheldon, K.M., Eds., Human Autonomy in Cross-Cultural Context: Perspectives on the Psychology of Agency, Freedom, and Well-Being, Springer, Dordrecht, 163-187.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9667-8_8 [2] Bass, B.M. (1990) Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership; Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications. 3rd Edition, The Free Press, New York. [3] Schultz, H. and Gordon, J. (2011) Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul. Rodale. [4] Amabile, T.M., Schatzel, E.A., Moneta, G.B. and Kramer, S.J. (2004) Leader Behaviors and the Work Environment for Creativity: Perceived Leader Support. The Leadership Quarterly, 15, 5-32.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2003.12.003 [5] Blais, M.R. and Brie Re, N.M. (1992) On the Mediational Role of Feelings of Self-Determination in the Workplace: Further Evidence and Generalization. Manuscript, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal. [6] Stahl, M.J. and Koser, M.C. (1978) Weighted Productivity in R&D: Some Associated Individual and Organizational Variables. Transactions on Engineering Management, 25, 20-24.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TEM.1978.6447271 [7] George, M. and Zhou, J. (2001) When Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness Are Related to Creative Behavior: An Interactional Approach. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 513-524.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.513 [8] Zhou, J. (2003) When the Presence of Creative Coworkers Is Related to Creativity: Role of Supervisor Close Monitoring, Developmental Feedback, and Creative Personality. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 413-422.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.3.413 [9] Christinna, E., Shalley, Zhou, J., et al. (2004) The Effects of Personal and Contextual Characteristics on Creativity: Where Should We Go from Here? Journal of Management, 6, 933-958. [10] Amabile, T.M. (1996) Creativity in Context. Westview, Boulder. [11] Amabile, T.M. (1988) A Model of Creativity and Innovation in Organizations. In: Staw, B.M. and Cummings, L.L., Eds., Research on Organizational Behavior, JAI Press, Greenwich, 123-167. [12] Vallerand, R.J., Pelletier, L.G., Blais, M.R., Briere, N.M., Senecal, C. and Valliéres, E.F. (1992) The Academic Motivation Scale: A Measure of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Amotivation in Education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1003-1017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013164492052004025 [13] Pajak, E. and Glickman, C. (1989) Informational and Controlling Language Insimulated Supervisory Conferences. American Educational Research Journal, 26, 93-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00028312026001093 [14] Zhou, J. and George, J.M. (2001) When Job Dissatisfaction Leads to Creativity: Encouraging the Expression of Voice. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 682-696.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3069410 [15] Zhou, J. and Shalley, C.E. (2008) Handbook of Organizational Creativity. Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale. [16] Frese, M. and Zapf, D. (1999) On the Importance of the Objective Environment in Stress and Attribution Theory. Counterpoint to Perrewé and Zellars. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20, 761-765.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199909)20:5<761::AID-JOB951>3.0.CO;2-Y [17] Deci, E.L., Ryan, R.M., Gagne, M., Leone, D., Usunov, J. and Kornazheva, B.P. (2001) Need Satisfaction, Motivation, and Well-Being in the Work Organizations of a Former Eastern Bloc Country. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 930-942.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167201278002 [18] Simon H. (1967) Motivational and Emotional Controls of Cognition. Psychological Review, 74, 29-39.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0024127 [19] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (1985) Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum, New York.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7 [20] Kovjanic, S., Schuh, S.C., Jonas, K., Van Quaquebeke, N. and Van Dick, R. (2012) How Do Transformational Leaders Foster Positive Employee Outcomes? A Self-Determination-Based Analysis of Employees’ Needs as Mediating Links. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33, 1031-1052.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.1771 [21] Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L. (2007) Active Human Nature: Self-Determination Theory and the Promotion and Maintenance of Sport, Exercise, and Health. In: Hagger, M.S. and Chatzisarantis, N.L.D., Eds., Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Exercise and Sport, Human Kinetics, Champaign, 1-19. [22] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (2000) The “What” and the “Why” of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227-268.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01 [23] Deci, E.L. (1975) Intrinsic Motivation. Plenum Publishing Co., New York.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4446-9 [24] Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (1987) The Support of Autonomy and the Control of Behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1024-1037.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.53.6.1024 [25] Vallerand, R.J. and Losier, G.F. (1999) An Integrative Analysis of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 142-169.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10413209908402956 [26] Deci, E.L. (1971) Effects of Externally Mediated Rewards on Intrinsic Motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 18, 105-115.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0030644 [27] Deci, E.L., Eghrari, H., Patrick, B.C. and Leone, D. (1994) Facilitating Internalization: The Self-Determination Theory Perspective. Journal of Personality, 62, 119-142.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00797.x [28] Gagné, M. and Deci, E.L. (2005) Self-Determination Theory and Work Motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26, 331-362.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.322