How does environmentally specific servant leadership facilitate employee green creativity?

Purpose Prior research on environmentally specific servant leadership (ESSL) and employee green creativity has produced inconsistent evidence concerning the mediating processes. The present study addresses these mixed findings by simultaneously investigating three motivational pathways – green ability, green commitment, and green harmonious passion – as well as the moderating role of consideration of future consequences. Design/methodology/approach We conducted a field survey and collected three-wave data from 203 leader–employee dyads. Path analyses were conducted to test our hypotheses. Findings The results showed that employee green ability, green commitment, and green harmonious passion mediated the relationship between ESSL and employee green creativity. Moreover, consideration of future consequences strengthens the association of ESSL with employee green ability, green commitment, and green harmonious passion, as well as the indirect relationship between ESSL and employee green creativity through the aforementioned three factors. Originality/value This study advances theoretical understanding of how and when ESSL fosters green creativity, while simultaneously offering practitioners actionable leadership strategies to build a capable, committed, and passionate workforce that supports organizational sustainability.