Speak up to speed up innovation: servant leadership triggered innovative work behavior mediated through voice behavior

Purpose This study aims to unfurl the mediating role of facets of voice behavior. The study also unearths the relationship between servant leadership and voice behavior. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from follower manager dyads in two waves of data collection initiated after the completion of the preceding wave. The final sample size obtained was 312. Findings The study found servant leadership to be related to innovative work behavior and facets of voice behavior. The study also found promotive voice behavior and preventive voice behavior to be related to the innovative work behavior of employees. The study found promotive voice behavior and prohibitive voice behavior work as parallel mediators linking servant leadership to the innovative work behavior of employees. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to unearth mediation linking servant leadership to innovative work behavior through both facets of voice behavior.