Examining Leadership Styles and Its Influence on Innovative Work Behaviour Through Innovation Culture:A Proposed Framework

Abstract

Innovation is widely recognized as a critical driver of organizational competitiveness in dynamic and knowledge-intensive economies. Leadership plays a central role in shaping employee behaviours that foster innovation within organizations. This proposed paper develops an integrated framework examining how leadership styles(transformational, transactional, and situational leadership) influence innovative work behaviour through the mediating role of innovation culture. Grounded in leadership and organizational culture theories, the study explains how leaders shape shared values, norms, and practices that support innovation. The proposed framework posits that leadership styles significantly contribute to the development of a strong innovation culture, which subsequently stimulates employees’ engagement in innovative work behaviours, including idea generation, idea promotion, and idea implementation. By synthesizing insights from leadership and innovation literature, this paper advances current theoretical understanding by positioning innovation culture as a key explanatory mechanism linking leadership styles to innovative work behaviour. The framework provides a foundation for future empirical research and offers practical insights for organizations seeking to cultivate leadership practices and cultural environments that enhance employee-driven innovation.