The chain mediating effect of shared leadership on team innovation

Background: Although recent literature has explored the effectiveness of shared leadership in teamwork, there is still a lack of more in-depth research on the process mechanism of shared leadership's effect on team innovation. Objective: Based on self-determination theory, social cognitive theory and adaptive structure theory, this study investigates the influence of shared leadership on team innovation, as well as the mediating roles played by team member exchange (TMX) and team resilience. A total of 107 knowledge-based teams were invited to participate in the study. Results: The findings indicate that: (1) shared leadership has a positive influence on team innovation, TMX and team resilience; (2) TMX and team resilience, respectively, mediate the influence of shared leadership on team innovation; (3) TMX and team resilience play a chain mediating role between shared leadership and team innovation. Conclusion: In knowledge-based teams, shared leadership has a positive effect on team innovation by promoting team communication and enhancing team resilience. The results contribute to research on the relationship between shared leadership and team innovation and their practical applications.