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The Voice Link: A Moderated Mediation Model of How Ethical Leadership Affects Individual Task Performance

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Abstract

This study empirically examines the proposition that ethical leadership may affect individuals’ task performance through enhancing employees’ promotive voice. Our theoretical model was tested using data collected from employees and supervisors in a high-tech company located in South China. Analyses of multisource three-wave data from 37 team supervisors and 176 employees showed that ethical leadership could significantly affect individuals’ task performance through promotive voice. Further, it was found that the relationship between ethical leadership and promotive voice was moderated by leader–leader exchange. Specifically, ethical leadership may significantly enhance employees’ promotive voice when leader–leader exchange is low. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

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  1. More information about the R program can be found at http://www.quantpsy.org.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by Grant No. 71302102 awarded to Shenjiang Mo and Grant No. 71425004 awarded to Junqi Shi from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Shenjiang Mo & Junqi Shi

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  1. Shenjiang Mo
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  2. Junqi Shi
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Correspondence to Junqi Shi.

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Mo, S., Shi, J. The Voice Link: A Moderated Mediation Model of How Ethical Leadership Affects Individual Task Performance. J Bus Ethics 152, 91–101 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3332-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3332-2

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