Effects of leader perfectionism on employee innovative behavior: Chain mediating role of perceived control and emotional exhaustion

This study explored from both cognitive and affective perspectives the mechanism involved in the internal effect of leader perfectionism on employee innovative behavior. Our goal was to disentangle the possible differential effects. A set of 254 leader–subordinate dyads completed a two-stage questionnaire, and the results revealed that leader perfectionism was negatively related to employee innovative behavior. Further, perceived control and emotional exhaustion played a chain mediating role in this association. By revealing the influence path of leader perfectionism on employee innovative behavior, this study enriches the literature and has practical significance for improving the leadership effectiveness of perfectionistic leaders.