How Authentic Leadership Promotes Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Mediating Role of Job-Related Motivation through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory

Abstract

This study explores the influence of authentic leadership on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), with job-related motivation serving as a mediator, structured within the framework of self-determination theory (SDT). Conducted in the palm oil manufacturing industry in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, the study surveyed 312 employees, of whom 145 provided fully completed and valid responses, yielding a response rate of 46.5%. The data were assessed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS version 3.3.0. The results indicate that authentic leadership positively and significantly affects both job-related motivation and OCB. Furthermore, job-related motivation plays a significant role in enhancing OCB and mediates the relationship between authentic leadership and OCB. These findings emphasize the critical role of authentic leadership in fostering employees’ intrinsic motivation by meeting their psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. This intrinsic motivation, in turn, encourages employees to engage in extra-role behaviors that lead to organizational success, even without external rewards or recognition.