Exploring the Mechanisms Underlying the Affective Leadership and Follower Knowledge Sharing Behaviors Linkage

Based on social exchange theory, the present study constructed a moderated mediation model to examine the effect of affective leadership on employees’ knowledge sharing behaviors. Through statistical analysis of 351 sample data collected at two time points, the study finds that affective leadership has a significant positive effect on employees’ knowledge sharing behavior. Organizational trust mediates the influence of affective leadership on employees’ knowledge sharing behavior. Supervisor's organizational embodiment moderates the relationship between affective leadership and organizational trust in that the relationship is more positive and stronger when supervisor's organizational embodiment is high. Moreover, moderated mediation analysis find that supervisor's organizational embodiment moderates the indirect effect of affective leadership on employees’ knowledge sharing behavior via organizational trust.