Self-Enhancement Motives, Feedback Seeking, and Creativity

This study examined the positive aspect of impression management and its effects on feedback seeking and creativity. While scholars have recognized that assertive impression management may facilitate employees’ feedback seeking, the feedback seeking literature has largely focused on defensive impression management and has not tested the possibility. Using survey data from 264 supervisor-subordinate dyads in Korea, we investigated the linkage between self-enhancement motives, feedback inquiry, and creativity. Results suggested that self-enhancement motives increase feedback inquiry and indirectly promote creativity through feedback inquiry. Also, supervisor close monitoring and coworker knowledge sharing moderated the indirect relationship between self-enhancement motive, feedback inquiry, and creativity. The potential positive effects of impression management motives and boundary conditions are discussed.