Aim/purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of transformational
leadership (TL) on innovative work behavior (IWB) among middle management in the
non-metallic mineral products industry, focusing on job crafting (JC) and knowledge-
-sharing behavior (KSB) as mediating factors.
Design/methodology/approach – Employing a cross-sectional design, this study inves-
tigated the non-metallic minerals industry in Indonesia through a deductive approach.
Data was collected from an online survey of 237 middle management personnel. A par-
tial least squares SEM and mediation analysis using the bootstrap method were used for
the data analysis.
Findings – The study reveals that TL significantly enhances KSB and IWB among middle
management in the non-metallic minerals industry. However, JC did not considerably affect
IWB and did not mediate the TL-IWB relationship, challenging the established paradigms.
These results underscore the complex dynamics between leadership, innovation, and JC,
highlighting the need for further research into contextual factors that influence these relation-
ships and the pivotal role of KSB in driving IWB.
Research implications/limitations – This study enhances the social exchange theory (SET)
by examining the interplay between TL, JC, KSB, and IWB in Indonesia’s non-metallic
minerals sector. Practical insights include leadership training for fostering innovation and
embedding knowledge sharing into daily routines to enhance innovations among middle
management.
Originality/value/contribution – This research offers novel insights into the intricate roles
of TL, JC, and KSB in fostering IWB within the Indonesian non-metallic minerals sector. It
challenges the existing paradigms about JC roles, highlighting the conditional influences of
organizational context and leadership dynamics on IWB.
Keywords: innovative work behavior, transformational leadership, middle management,
non-metallic minerals sector.
JEL Classification: M10, M50, M54, L69.