Relationship Conflict and Creative Performance Behavior in a Leader-Follower Context

Keywords: leader-follower relationship conflict, openness, creative performance behavior, power distance orientation

Abstract: Drawing on the literatures on conflict, leadership, and creativity, I investigated precursors of creative performance behavior in the workplace. The results of a three-wave survey demonstrated that leader-follower relationship conflict was negatively related to a follower’s creative performance behavior via perceived leader openness. In addition, a follower’s power distance orientation weakened the negative relationship between leader-follower relationship conflict and perceived leader openness. Furthermore, a follower’s power distance orientation decreased the indirect, negative relationship between leader-follower relationship conflict and the follower’s creative performance behavior via perceived leader openness. I discuss theoretical and practical implications and propose future research directions for conflict, leadership, team processes, and creativity in organizations.