Keywords
individual creativity
work performance
small businesses
fashion industry
How to Cite
Abstract
Purpose – This study examines the role of individual creativity as a mediator in the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and work performance.
Theoretical framework – We present and discuss the concepts of entrepreneurial leadership and work performance, focusing particularly on the psychological mechanisms involved in employee creativity based on social cognitive theory.
Design/methodology/approach – We used a quantitative approach with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the relationships among the variables. We used a sample of 184 small businesses in the fashion industry to establish and examine four hypotheses.
Findings – The empirical findings show that entrepreneurial leadership significantly enhances individual creativity and work performance. Additionally, individual creativity partially mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and work performance, though the effect is low.
Practical and social implications of the research – The study provides theoretical insights into the psychological pathways connecting leadership and performance. It also offers practical guidance for small fashion industry entrepreneurs on how to foster creativity and improve performance through entrepreneurial leadership.
Originality/value – Although many studies have examined the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on individual performance, few have investigated the psychological mechanisms influencing employee performance through creativity. Additionally, most previous studies have focused on large corporations and high-tech environments, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how entrepreneurial leadership functions within small, creative businesses.
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