Leading into job crafting A study examining the relationships between charismatic leadership, well-being and innovative work behavior and the mediating role of job crafting.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigated the possible predictors and outcomes of job crafting. We examined whether charismatic leadership, through its influence on job crafting behaviors, is associated with occupational well-being and innovative work behavior. Data were collected from 333 candidates at Derks & Derks, a consulting firm that mainly operates in the life sciences. Results were analyzed using multiple-mediation analysis. The findings suggest that charismatic leadership stimulates crafting social and structural resources, but has no effect on job demands. Moreover, the relationship between charismatic leadership and occupational wellbeing is partially mediated by crafting structural resources. Furthermore, crafting job resources and challenging demands have a positive relationship with innovative work behavior, whereas crafting hindering demands exhibits no significant relationship. Lastly, the different forms of job crafting have different associations with occupational well-being, however crafting hindering demands seems negatively related to engagement. This study is among the first to examine charismatic leadership as an antecedent of job crafting and innovative work behavior as a possible outcome. This study also considered job crafting as a mediator between charismatic leadership and occupational wellbeing and between charismatic leadership and innovative work behavior. Implications and recommendations for theory and practice are discussed.