When and why does voice sustain or stop? The roles of leader behaviours, power differential perception and psychological safety
Abstract
Our research investigates when and why voice sustains or ceases at work. Based on the issue‐selling framework and approach/avoidance theory of power, we argue that leader humble behaviour is a power‐equalising behaviour that facilitates subsequent voice after present voice. By contrast, leader abusive behaviour is a power‐asymmetry‐exacerbating behaviour that inhibits subsequent voice after present voice. The results from one experiment conducted in the United States and one two‐wave, two‐source survey study conducted in China demonstrated that when employee present voice was accompanied by leader humble behaviour, employee psychological safety was enhanced, which, in turn, increased subsequent voice. However, when employee present voice was accompanied by leader abusive behaviour, employee psychological safety was reduced, which, in turn, decreased subsequent voice. The field study further demonstrated that power differential perception mediated the interactive effects of employee present voice and leader behaviours on employee psychological safety and, consequently, on subsequent voice.
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“Humble leaders create an environment where employees feel secure in expressing concerns, reinforcing that their input is not only tolerated but essential for organizational improvement 49,50 .”
- Authors
- Liu, X., Mao, J., Chiang, J. T., Guo, L., & Zhang, S.
- Affiliations
- Renmin University of China (CN)
- University of Nottingham Ningbo China (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- University of International Business and Economics (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Mao, Jih‐Yu
- Venue
- Applied Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-09-27
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1209-1247
- ISSN
- 0269-994X (ISSN-L)
- 1464-0597
- OpenAlex
- W4296110808
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 84
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 6.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (72002214, 72072005, 72102040)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Diversity and Inequality
- Keywords
- employee voice, psychological safety, power equalization, power imbalance
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