The effects of ethical leadership on creativity: A conservation of resources perspective

The pursuit of novelty can be a challenging experience that often comes with stress. Thinking outside the box can even lead to ethical dilemmas, particularly when innovators are under the pressure to meet deadlines. In this study, we examine creativity as a stress-inducing process, especially when employees encounter setbacks during their pursuit of novelty. Our aim was to explore the relationship between ethical leadership and creativity from a Conservation of Resources (COR) perspective. Using two distinct research samples, we discovered that help seeking behavior during the pursuit of novelty is crucial for acquiring resources in the workplace and serves as a mediator in the relationship between ethical leadership and creativity. We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.