Broaden and Build: Receiving Gratitude Fuels Public Servants' Service Innovation Behavior.

Abstract

Drawing on the Broaden and Build theory, this study investigates how and when receiving gratitude shapes public servants' service innovative behavior. Based on a multi-wave, multi-source survey study of 398 public servants and their paired leaders in Chinese civil service sub-district offices, the results empirically support expectations that receiving gratitude during public service can promote public servants' service innovative behavior. Specifically, receiving gratitude during public service promotes public servants' positive emotions of meaningfulness, further promoting service innovative behavior. Moreover, high emotional intelligence strengthens such processes. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.