Does Machiavellian leadership of HODs hinder university teachers’ creativity? A moderated mediation model

Machiavellian leadership, an emerging form of toxic has been noticed to have serious negative effects on organizations. Thus, expanding the literature dark styles this study specifically examines mechanism via which leadership departmental heads (HODs) may hinder university teachers’ creativity by considering mediating effect enterprising tendency. Furthermore, considers leader-member exchange (LMX) as a moderator that buffers dysfunctional leadership. A dual-source data was collected from 303 teachers and 32 HODs two leading universities in Islamabad. Findings statistical analyses confirm leadership–creativity relationship is mediated Also, tendency moderated LMX, such more evident under higher levels LMX. In total, study’s findings expand understanding regarding why, when how employees’ creativity.