Ninth International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

Based on the optimal distinctiveness theory, the paper proposes a moderated mediation model to evaluate the role of employee creativity and work engagement in the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance. Data were collected from 164 employees in the Greek tourism industry and their supervisors in three sequential phases. Firstly, we hypothesize that employee creativity mediates the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance. Secondly, we hypothesize that work engagement moderates the relationship between employee creativity and adaptive performance, as well as, that the indirect relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance through employee creativity is moderated by work engagement, such that the relationships are stronger under high work engagement. The findings reveal that employee creativity mediates the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance. Further, they suggest that work engagement moderates the relationship between employee creativity and adaptive performance, as well as, the indirect relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance through employee creativity. The originality of this study lies in the finding that employee creativity mediates the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee adaptive performance. In addition, the findings illustrate the moderating role of work engagement. The research also refers to the rapidly changing tourism industry which plays a critical role to the Greek economy. The results disclose that should managers achieve to positively influence employees’ creativity by employing inclusive procedures; they will enhance their adaptive performance. Further, they note that employees’ creativity may serve as a facilitating factor during change.