Social Side of Creativity: Voice Behavior as Moderator of the Relationship between Individual Creativity and Leader-Member-Exchange

Abstract

In this study we examined relationship between individual creativity of subordinates and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) at organizations. Using multisource data gathering technique we collected data from 40 teams with 293 employees working at different controlling offices of a private software house operates in Pakistan. We integrated creativity, trust and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) literature to understand social side of creativity at organizations. We found that individual creativity is positively related with Leader Member Exchange (LMX) and provided support to creativity literature that creativity as a unique resource of individuals is predictor of quality relationship with formal leaders at organizations. We also provided support to Leader Member Exchange (LMX) literature that individual creativity as a unique competency of subordinates precede Leader Member Exchange (LMX) at organizations. Using interpersonal trust literature we also tested two contingencies: challenging voice and supportive voice on relationship building between individual creativity and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) at organizations. We found that behaviors which promote interpersonal trust also strengthen the relationship between individual creativity and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) at organizations and behaviors which impede interpersonal trust also weaken the relationship between individual creativity and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) at organizations. Implications of the findings and future research directions also discussed.

Keywords: Individual Creativity, Leader Member Exchange (LMX), Voice Behavior, Challenging Voice, Supportive Voice, Interpersonal Trust.