Voices Unleashed: How Paradoxical Leadership Sparks Employee Expression through Relational Energy and Proactive Personality Traits

Abstract

Voicing behavior is paramount to ensure organizational sustainability through continuous challenge to the status quo. A number of antecedents of voicing behavior have been examined, especially, in leadership context. However, the effect of paradoxical leadership is still not investigated to a great deal. Paradoxical leadership is prevalent in todays’ organizational landscape due to its ability to balance between contradictory situations. This study examines the effect of paradoxical leadership on voicing behavior. Moreover, the mediating role of relational energy and the moderating role proactive personality traits are also tested in this study. This quantitative study used surveys to collect data from 291 employees. Results show that paradoxical leadership positively affected voicing behavior of followers. Moreover, relational energy mediated the effect of paradoxical leadership on voicing behavior. Proactive personality traits are found to moderate the effect such that the relationship between paradoxical leadership and voicing behavior through relational energy strengthens when an employee is proactive. This study has important managerial implications that have been discussed at the end of the article.