The relationship between servant leadership and intrinsic motivation

Abstract

Purpose: Even though servant leadership (SL) is proved to be beneficial for the effectiveness of individuals, it is still an understudied topic, so this essay will aim to prove its effects in another variable (Intrinsic motivation) in order to create a wider knowledge about this subject. Design / Methodology / Approach: Data were gathered from 24 employees across a variety of companies located in the east of Spain. Findings: Certain dimensions defining servant leadership behavior positively affect the levels of intrinsic motivation among the staff of a company, including dimensions such as behaving ethically and helping employees grow and succeed. Originality / Value: Due to the characteristics of the current labor market and the way people think, a lot of the HR practices which are carried out nowadays are only based on fostering extrinsic motivation by giving something to employees in exchange of their work, so it is interesting to analyze how employees can become intrinsically motivated by analyzing its relationship with an emergent leadership style.