Altruistic leadership and affiliative humor's role on service innovation: Lessons from Spanish public hospitals

Abstract

Despite literature identifies aspects that might promote innovation, the relationship between the leadership style and nurses' innovative behavior still remains unclear, and little research has provided evidence of this. To help advance in knowledge of effects of leadership on nurses' innovative behavior, we researched the effect of altruistic leadership on nurses' innovative behavior. In addition, the mediating role of affiliative humor in the relationship between altruistic leadership and nurses' innovative behavior was examined. Questionnaire survey method was followed with a sample of 324 nurses working in public hospitals in Spain. We used structural equation models, to check the research hypotheses. This research reveals that affiliative humor partially mediates the relationship between altruistic leadership and nurses' innovative behavior. Thus, unselfish leaders are crucial to promoting innovative behaviors among nurses, and affiliative humor plays a fundamental role to explain how altruistic leaders enhance nurses' innovative behavior.

Humble leadership and innovative behaviour among Chinese nurses: The mediating role of work engagement

“…First, our results evidence that humble leadership has a direct and positive effect on nurses' innovative behaviour, supporting H1. Innovation activities often involve taking risks and facing difficulties (Salas‐Vallina et al, ; Zhong et al, ). One of the most important barriers to enact innovative behaviour is a fear of taking risks (Knol & van Linge, ).…”

“…Innovation activities often involve taking risks and facing difficulties (Salas-Vallina et al, 2018;Zhong et al, 2018). One of the most important barriers to enact innovative behaviour is a fear of taking risks (Knol & van Linge, 2009 Wang et al (2016) found that humble leadership is positive related to followers' creativity (the first component of innovative behaviour), and this positive effect is mediated by perspective taking.…”

“…Notably, in order to generate and implement something new in the organisations, individuals must have invested tremendous and valuable personal resources and efforts, which also means they have to be engaged in work (Wang et al, ). Since innovative behaviour involves the generation and implementation of novel ideas, process and methods, it necessitates individual employees to be concentrated on their work and be happily absorbed in it (absorption), have high levels mental resilience and persistence to deal with difficulties while working (vigour), and have the feeling of enthusiasm, pride and meaning in work (dedication) (Salas‐Vallina et al, ). Empirically, a recent study has reported a positive relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour among nurses (Salas‐Vallina et al, ; Wang et al, ).…”

“…Nursing innovative behaviour refers to nurses' work‐related behaviour that help them generate and implement novel ideas, process and methods in health care practice (Afsar, ; Knol & van Linge, ; Salas‐Vallina, Ferrer‐Franco, & Fernandez Guerrero, ). Many studies have found that nurses' innovative behaviour could improve the quality and efficiency of care (Chang & Liu, ; Zhong, Hu, Zheng, Ding, & Luo, ).…”

“…Current research thus has growing interest in exploring factors affecting nurses' innovative work behaviour. Among others, leader has been viewed as one of the most important factors in promoting nurses' innovative behaviour (Salas‐Vallina et al, ).…”