Transformational leadership, proactive personality and service performance: The mediating role of organizational embeddedness

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impacts of transformational leadership and employee proactive personality on service performance, the mediation role of organizational embeddedness and the synergies of transformational leadership and proactive personality within the proposed framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected following a time-lagged research approach. The study sample included 218 frontline employees and their supervisors from ten carefully selected five-star hotels in China. Structural equation modeling was employed for the data analysis.

Findings

Transformational leadership and proactive personality had positive effects on task performance and contextual performance via organizational embeddedness. The interactive influences of transformational leadership and proactive personality on task performance and contextual performance were found significant and negative.

Originality/value

Transformational leaders and proactive employees have been shown to exert a strong influence on excellent service performance, with organizational embeddedness playing a critical role.

Citation

Yang, C., Chen, Y., Zhao, X.(R). and Hua, N. (2020), "Transformational leadership, proactive personality and service performance: The mediating role of organizational embeddedness", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 267-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2019-0244