Linking leader expectations to employee green creativity: the critical roles of green intellectual stimulation and capital

Purpose This research proposes that leader expectations for green creativity promote employee green creativity, as they guide leaders to provide green intellectual stimulation to employees. This relationship exists only when organizations provide sufficient green intellectual capital. Design/methodology/approach We obtained survey data from 241 employees and their leaders over three waves and conducted regression analyses. Findings Leader expectations for green creativity evoke leader green intellectual stimulation, which increases employee green creativity. Green intellectual capital strengthens the link between leader green intellectual stimulation and employee green creativity as well as the indirect linkage between leader expectations for green creativity and employee green creativity through leader green intellectual stimulation. Practical implications This research provides valuable insights into key strategies that organizations and leaders can use to promote employee green creativity, such as expressing expectations, facilitating intellectual stimulation, and providing intellectual capital. Originality/value This research advances the literature on leadership and employee green creativity by integrating Pygmalion theory and green intellectual capital theory.