The influence of subordinates’ strength-based leadership on creative process engagement in a moderated mediation mechanism

Purpose We aimed to investigate the influence of subordinates’ strength-based leadership (SSBL) on their creative process engagement (CPE), with a specific focus on the mediating role of creative self-efficacy (CSE) and the potential moderating influence of creative identity. Drawing from the interactionist perspective of creativity and innovation, we also aimed to deepen the understanding of how SSBL influences CPE through a moderated mediation mechanism. Design/methodology/approach We grounded the research questions and hypotheses in the tenets of the interactionist perspective on creativity and innovation. We adopted a deductive reasoning approach and applied a quantitative research design. We collected cross-sectional data from employees across multiple industries in an emerging market context using structured surveys facilitated by trained research assistants. We employed partial least squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesized moderated mediation model. Findings The analysis revealed that SSBL significantly enhances employees’ CSE, which in turn positively impacts their engagement in the creative process. The results support a partial mediation model, wherein CSE acts as a surrogate through which SSBL affects CPE. However, contrary to expectations, the hypothesized moderated mediation effect involving creative identity (CI) was not statistically significant. These findings refine existing theoretical models by emphasizing the partial, rather than conditional, pathway from leadership to creativity through CSE. Practical implications This research offers novel insights into how SSBL influences creativity in organizational settings, particularly in emerging nations. By presenting and empirically testing a moderated mediation model involving SSBL, CSE and CI, which has not been studied before, this research advances the body of literature. Practically, the findings suggest that managers seeking to foster employee creativity should focus on developing CSE and leveraging individual strengths rather than relying solely on identity alignment. Originality/value This study represents the first attempt to conceptualize and empirically validate the role of SSBL in promoting employees’ CPE through the mechanisms of CSE and CI. The emphasis on a developing nation broadens the generalizability of creativity theories and provides contextual complexity. The suggested model constitutes a significant contribution to the fields of leadership and creativity studies since it is one of the first to incorporate SSBL, CSE and CI into the explanation of CPE.