Where energy flows, passion grows: testing a moderated mediation model of work passion through a cross-cultural lens

This study examines how and when passionate leaders can instigate work passion in their followers. We propose relational energy as a social interaction mediator that can facilitate the crossover of work passion from leader to followers. Additionally, we introduce a moderator of culture (Anglo culture, e.g., Canada vs. Confucian Asian culture, e.g., China) as it plays a vital role in the dynamics of interpersonal relations within a leader-follower dyad. We collected two-wave data from MBA students of two Confucian Asian countries (China and Singapore,n = 120) and two Anglo countries (Canada and Australia,n = 265) to test our moderated mediation model. The results show that interactions with passionate leaders can generate relational energy in followers and subsequently lead to followers' passion for work. Furthermore, the findings shed light on the moderating effect of culture, such that the leader-follower work passion relationship via follower relational energy was stronger for followers from Anglo culture than the followers from Confucian Asian culture. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Automated summary

This study examines the role of passionate leaders in instigating work passion in their followers and proposes relational energy as a mediator in this process. The study also explores the moderating effect of culture on the leader-follower relationship. The findings suggest that interactions with passionate leaders can generate relational energy in followers, leading to their work passion. Moreover, the relationship between leader-follower work passion via follower relational energy is stronger in Anglo culture compared to Confucian Asian culture.