The Effect of Servant Leadership on Employee Behaviors: Mediating Effects of Supervisory Trust and Organizational Trust

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of servant leadership on organizational citizenship behavior(OCB) and counter-productive behavior(CPB) through mediating variables of supervisory trust and organizational trust. In addition, a moderating effect of promotion focus of subordinate on the relationship between servant leadership and supervisory trust was examined. Data were collected form 205 employee who are working in various organizations in Korea. The results of structural equation analyses showed that servant leadership had a direct effect on supervisory trust, which then influences organizational trust, and then finally affects OCB and CPB. Promotion focus moderated the relationship between servant leadership and supervisor trust. Contrary to the hypothesis, however, the relationship between servant leadership and supervisor trust was stronger for the low promotion focus group. Finally, the implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research were discussed.