How and when does employees’ learning goal orientation contribute to taking charge behaviour? The roles of empowering leadership and work-related flow

Abstract

We explored the mediating role of work-related flow and the moderating role of empowering leadership in the relationship between employees’ learning goal orientation and taking charge behaviour. Chinese employees (n = 313; female =57.51%; mean age =32.26 years, SD = 6.83 years; mainly from manufacturing = 30.35% and IT = 23.32% industries) completed surveys at two time points. Structural equation modelling and path analysis results found employees’ learning goal orientation contributed to taking charge behaviour, and work-related flow partially mediated this relationship. When leadership was highly empowering, the relationship between employees’ learning goal orientation and work-related flow was stronger, leading to more taking charge behaviour. These study findings are consistent with the trait activation theory. Employer organisations should encourage empowering leadership and create an environment conducive to flow for employees with learning goal orientation, as this would promote their taking charge behaviours.