Abstract:
Purpose- This study examines the leadership styles (Abusive, Autocratic & Ethical) and innovative work behavior through the moderator leader–member exchange (LMX) and mediator employee voice behavior. Particularly, this study utilized the social exchange theory to investigate the indirect effect of three distinct leadership styles on innovative work behavior through moderator LMX and mediator employee voice behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Online Google questionnaires were used to collect data from 460 employees working in selected ten Institutions from Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Hypotheses were tested using SPSS and Process Macro. Findings – One of the leadership styles was significantly related to IWB. LMX had a significant effect on employee voice behavior and innovative work behavior. Further, employee voice boosted the indirect relationship between Ethical leadership and innovative behavior. However, abusive and autocratic leadership styles demonstrated a significant but negative in direct effect on innovative behavior employee voice