A meta-analysis of leadership and intrinsic motivation: Examining relative importance and moderators

Abstract

This paper provides the first meta-analytic examination of the relationship between leadership and followers' intrinsic motivation. In particular, we examined 6 leadership variables (transformational, ethical, leader-member exchange, servant, empowering, and abusive supervision) using data from 50 independent samples and 21,873 participants. We found that transformational leadership, ethical leadership, leader-member exchange (LMX), servant leadership, and empowering leadership were positively related to intrinsic motivation, whereas abusive supervision was negatively linked to intrinsic motivation. Although these leadership styles were associated with intrinsic motivation, they varied considerably in their relative importance. Empowering, ethical, and servant leadership emerged as the more important contributors to intrinsic motivation than transformational leadership. LMX showed a similar contribution with transformational leadership to intrinsic motivation. Effectiveness of leadership styles in relation to intrinsic motivation varied by power distance, publication year, and journal quality. Drawing on our findings, we discuss the theoretical and practice implications.

Humble leadership and its outcomes: A meta-analysis

“…We found that as the year increases, the correlation between humble leadership and task performance increases. Interestingly, Xue et al ( 2022 ) also found the correlation between servant leadership (ethical leadership) and intrinsic motivation increases, as the year increases. However, these findings should be understood carefully, as publication year may relate to a series of factors (e.g., management level and economic condition).…”

“…It is quite interesting to consider the influence of publication year. Because the year may relate to many factors, such as economic conditions and research paradigms (Xue et al, 2022 ). It is also possible that overall study quality increases as the year increases, which may influence the correlations of interest.…”

“…Finally, scholars still lack knowledge of the potential influence of moderators on the relationship between humble leadership and its outcomes. Early meta-analyses (e.g., Bal et al, 2008 ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Li P. et al, 2021 ; Xue et al, 2022 ) identified the moderating roles of age, gender, study design (cross-temporal vs. time-lagged), country, and publication year. For instance, Xue et al ( 2022 ) found the moderating effects of year and research design when studying servant leadership–intrinsic motivation linkage; Li P. et al ( 2021 ) found the moderation roles of study design and country when researching the relationship between leadership and engagement.…”

“…Early meta-analyses (e.g., Bal et al, 2008 ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Li P. et al, 2021 ; Xue et al, 2022 ) identified the moderating roles of age, gender, study design (cross-temporal vs. time-lagged), country, and publication year. For instance, Xue et al ( 2022 ) found the moderating effects of year and research design when studying servant leadership–intrinsic motivation linkage; Li P. et al ( 2021 ) found the moderation roles of study design and country when researching the relationship between leadership and engagement. The current study seeks to explore the potential moderating roles of these factors, contributing to humble leadership literature.…”

Engaging leadership and nurse well-being: the role of the work environment and work motivation—a cross-sectional study

“…Engaging leaders are expected to behave in such a way that they fulfil their followers' work-related basic needs [11] which, in turn, is expected to fuel intrinsic motivation [34]. Schaufeli [11] proposes four components of EL, namely, empowering, strengthening, inspiring, and connecting.…”