Impact of Servant and Supportive Leadership on Employee Voice Behaviour with the Mediating Effect of Leader-Member Exchange

Abstract

This research aims to examine the impact that servant and supportive leadership have on employee voice behaviour in the IT sector of the twin cities i.e. Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Furthermore, the research examines the mediating role of leader-member exchange between the two leadership styles (servant and supportive) on employee voice behaviour. Employee voice behaviour is a voluntary and pro-social behaviour and at times risky therefore it does not occur readily. Provision of a conducive environment by a leader encourages the employees to speak up that leads an organization towards prosperity. The scholars have shown inclination towards servant leadership and supportive leadership due to their expected positive and beneficial returns. These leadership styles focus on the development of their employees to unearth their full potential. Additionally, the potential paybacks of employee voice behaviour has prompted the researchers to study the phenomenon intricately. The study uses as deductive research approach for the sake of objectivity by using a quantitative research technique. A survey research design was used to carry out the quantitative research. A data of 235 employees was collected using simple random sampling from the employees in the IT sector of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The study used SPSS version 20 for the analysis of the data and the results were obtained using regression, correlation and ANOVA. The study reveals a significant and positive association of the servant and supportive leadership with employee voice behaviour. Leader member exchange mediated the relationship of servant leadership and employee voice behaviour while a partial mediation was witnessed by leader member exchange between supportive leadership and employee voice behaviour. Therefore, the study proves that when a leader demonstrates servant and supportive leadership in the IT sector, it results in a feeling of mutual trust and the employees feel secure to voice their opinion, ideas and concerns.