Double-edged sword effect of servant leadership on employee creativity: Mediation–moderation analysis

Drawing on social information processing theory (SIPT), this study examines the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and follower dependency on the relationship between servant leadership and employee creativity, focusing on task uncertainty moderation. Data was collected from 338 employees in Chinese manufacturing companies (females = 62.1%, 21–40 years old = 91.1%, bachelor’s degree or above = 86.1%). The employees completed two waves of surveys two weeks apart. Findings from a structural equation model indicate that higher servant leadership was associated with higher employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. However, high servant leadership was associated with low employee creativity through follower dependency. Creative self-efficacy mediation between servant leadership and employee creativity was stronger than follower dependency. Task uncertainty strengthened the indirect effect of servant leadership on employee creativity via creative self-efficacy and follower dependency. From these findings, it appears that servant leadership has a double-edged sword effect on employee creativity.