The effect of strengths-based leadership on knowledge sharing behavior: the mediating role of leader-member exchange and the moderating of age

Drawing social exchange theory, this study investigated the relationship strengths-based leadership and knowledge sharing behavior and the mediating role of leader-member exchange as well as the moderating role of age in this relationship. Data were collected at two time points with a sample of 998 full-time participants working in various Chinese organizations to test hypotheses in this study. We employed structural equation model with latent variables to test our hypothesis. The results indicated that strengths-based leadership is positively related to knowledge sharing behavior, leader-member exchange significantly partially mediates the relationship between strengths-based leadership and knowledge sharing behavior, and age negatively moderated the direct relationship of strengths-based leadership with leader-member exchange and the indirect association of strengths-based leadership with knowledge sharing behavior via leader-member exchange. This research contributes to advancing the theory and research on strengths-based leadership, providing innovative insights into promoting knowledge sharing behavior.