STEMM Institute Press
Science, Technology, Engineering, Management and Medicine
How Quantum Leadership Style Affects Employees’ Job Performance
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202512509
Author(s)
Xinglei Zhou, Liming Chen*
Affiliation(s)
College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China *Corresponding Author
Abstract
While existing literature has extensively explored traditional leadership styles, there remains a paucity of empirical studies examining leadership styles and their impacts on employees' organizational behaviors from a novel perspective. Grounded in quantum thinking, this research examines the mechanism by which quantum leadership shapes employees' job performance, while exploring the mediating role of employee work engagement alongside the moderating effect of leader-member exchange (LMX). Data were collected from 468 employees across 17 enterprises in 14 cities in China. The results indicate that: (1) quantum leadership positively promotes employees' job performance; (2) employee work engagement serves as a mediator for the impact of quantum leadership on employees' job performance; (3) to varying degrees, LMX moderates the link through which quantum leadership influences employee work engagement. This research is expected to offer valuable references and evidence for leaders to exert quantum influence, facilitate individuals' career development, and enhance enterprises' sustainability.
Keywords
Quantum Leadership; Employees' Job Performance; Employee Work Engagement; Leader-Member Exchange
References
[1] Blank, W. (1997). The 9 Natural Laws of Leadership Ability. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House. [2] Pascale, R. T., Millemann, M., & Gioja, L. (2000). Surfing the Edge of Chaos: The Laws of Nature and the New Laws of Business. New York: Crown Business. [3] Xin, J., Xie, Y. Z., & Fan, L. (2020). The origin, dimensions and measurement of quantum leadership in the VUCA context. Journal of Business Economics, (4), 39-51. [4] Zhang, B. H., & Yu, Z. (1998). "Quantum-type" leadership competence and leadership behavior. Scientific Management Research, (6), 60-63. [5] Zohar, D. (2016). Quantum Leaders: The Revolution in Business Thinking and Practice (Yang, Z., Trans.). Beijing: China Machine Press. [6] Cheng, G. (2017). Quantum leadership and servant leadership. Enterprise Management, (7), 41-42. [7] Peng, J. F., Ma, X. M., & Gan, L. N. (2019). Construction of quantum leadership: Mechanism and path. Human Resources Development of China, 36(12), 144-156. [8] Wang, Y. (2023). The impact of employee trait mindfulness on work engagement under the influence of quantum leadership. Liaoning University. [9] Hao, X. L., & Chen, Y. W. (2023). Research on the relationship between non-compliant tasks and knowledge hiding: From the perspective of dual-process model and quantum leadership. Journal of Technoeconomics & Management Research, (10), 75-80. [10]Xin, J., Tu, Y. F., & Jiao, W. H. (2021a). Can quantum leadership enhance employees’ work well-being in the context of pandemic uncertainty? The role of person-organization fit and emotional exhaustion. Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 23(1), 15-26. [11]Chen, S. (2021). The influence mechanism of quantum leadership on employees’ affective organizational commitment in uncertain contexts [Master's thesis]. Shandong University. [12]Barling, J., Cooper, C., & Robinson, S. L. (2008). Dysfunctional Workplace Behavior. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. [13]Wu, Y. (2022). Research on the influence mechanism of quantum leadership on employees’ innovation performance [Master's thesis]. Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. [14]Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two-sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71-92. [15]Rabinowitz, S., & Hall, D. T. (1977). Organizational research on job involvement. Psychological Bulletin, 84(2), 265-288. [16]Xin, J., Han, Y., Liu, S. J., et al. (2021b). The impact of quantum leadership on employees’ work engagement under uncertainty. Science Research Management, 42(6), 176-183. [17]Li, R., & Ling, W. Q. (2007). The current status of work engagement research. Advances in Psychological Science, (2), 366-372. [18]Li, Y. Z., Wang, Y., & Yang, J. N. (2015). The impact of self-efficacy and work engagement on the job performance of R&D personnel in high-tech enterprises. Science of Science and Management of S&T, 36(2), 173-180. [19]He, L., & Ling, W. Q. (2010). The effect of leadership style on employees’ job performance: The influence of organizational identification and work engagement. Enterprise Economy, (11), 65-68. [20]Li, W., & Mei, J. X. (2012). Intrinsic motivation, work engagement and employee performance: The moderating effect of core self-evaluation. Economic Management Journal, 34(9), 77-90. [21]Liu, D. G., & Shi, K. (2015). The relationship between abusive supervision, cynicism and organizational affective commitment: The moderated mediating role of leader-member exchange. Journal of Guangzhou University (Social Science Edition), 14(9), 35-44. [22]Ke, J. L., & Ding, Q. (2020). The impact of entrepreneurial leadership on employees’ attitudes and innovation performance in start-ups: The mediating role of workplace spirituality and the moderating role of leader-member exchange. Research on Economics and Management, 41(1), 91-103. [23]Fan, X. Q., & Yu, B. (2021). How performance pressure promotes employee creativity: The moderating role of leader-member exchange. Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 23(2), 108-120. [24]Yu, G. L., & Zhang, S. L. (2022). The double-edged sword effect of prosocial behavior on employees’ innovation performance: The mediating role of emotion and the moderating role of leader-member exchange. Science and Technology Management Research, 42(20), 210-218. [25]Shi, K., Song, X. D., Zhou, R. H., et al. (2022). The influence mechanism of transformational leadership on employees’ work well-being: The mediating role of job crafting and the moderating role of leader-member exchange. Psychological Research, 15(6), 526-535. [26]Ma, S. J. (2018). Research on the relationship between pay equity, employee engagement and job performance. Shandong University. [27]Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701-706. [28]Liden, R. C., & Maslyn, J. M. (1998). Multidimensionality of leader-member exchange: An empirical assessment through scale development. Journal of Management, 24(1), 43-72.
Copyright @ 2020-2035 STEMM Institute Press All Rights Reserved