Ambidextrous leadership to stimulate innovative work behaviours: the roles of goal clarity and psychological empowerment

Abstract

In this study the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and innovative work behaviours was examined in a parallel mediation model. The mediating variables in this research were goal clarity and psychological empowerment. Current research up to this point has mainly neglected the complications of the innovation process. This current research measures the effects of ambidextrous leadership, including its flexibility to match the requirements of the innovation process. The data for this research came from 198 respondents who answered an online questionnaire. The main result of this research is the mediating effect of psychological empowerment on the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and innovative work behaviours. Furthermore, there were several significant direct relationships between leadership and innovation. Concluding, this research helps to expand the theoretical framework on ambidextrous leadership, innovation, goal clarity and psychological empowerment. This study also introduces a new way of measuring ambidextrous leadership, which significantly increases the validity of the study.