Workplace relationships and employees' proactive behavior: Organization-based self-esteem as a mediator

We utilized self-determination theory to understand employees' proactive behavior. Assuming that organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) is a key variable influencing employees' satisfaction status, we proposed that leader-member exchange (LMX) and team-member exchange (TMX) would affect employees' proactive behavior through their OBSE, and that LMX and TMX would interact, whereby TMX would increase proactive behavior through affecting OBSE when individuals experience low-quality LMX. Data were collected from 315 employees in a Chinese company. The results show that workplace relationships positively affected OBSE and employees' proactive behavior, and OBSE played a mediating role in these relationships. TMX increased employees' OBSE and proactive behavior under the condition of low-quality LMX. Our results highlight the consequences of workplace interpersonal interactions on OBSE and proactive behavior. Practical solutions for enhancing employee motivation are recommended.