Learning from your leaders and helping your coworkers: the trickle-down effect of leader helping behavior

Abstract

Purpose

Based on the social cognitive theory, this research analyzed the helping behavior of leaders and its trickle-down effect on an employee's helping behavior. Additionally, this study analyzed the relationship between an employee's helping behavior and thriving at work.

Design/methodology/approach

Cellphones were used to collect data using the experience sampling method from 74 participants over five consecutive days (N = 370), and the conceptual model was analyzed at the episode level.

Findings

This research examined the helping behavior of employees and its role in mediating the relationship between a leader's helping behavior and an employee's thriving at work. Psychological availability moderates this indirect relationship; and high psychological availability increases the indirect influence of a leader's helping behavior on an employee's helping behavior, which in turn increases employee's thriving at work.

Originality/value

The findings of this research shed light on a new social cognitive mechanism through which the helping behavior of leaders enhances an employee's thriving at work.

Citation

Zhang, Z., Zhang, L., Xiu, J. and Zheng, J. (2020), "Learning from your leaders and helping your coworkers: the trickle-down effect of leader helping behavior", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 41 No. 6, pp. 883-894. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-07-2019-0317