Directional Relationship Between Creative Self-Efficacy & Intrinsic Motivation in Affecting Creatity

We propose two theoretical possibilities to untangle the interrelationship between creative self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation in shaping employee creativity. First, capturing the critical role of self-efficacy in the self-regulation of motivation, creative self-efficacy can promote intrinsic motivation for creative activities, which in turn boosts employee creativity. Job autonomy further strengthens these directional effects. Second, by fostering enactive mastery, intrinsic motivation can promote creative self-efficacy, which boosts employee creativity. Leader creative role modelling further amplifies these directional effects. The results based on a field study with a cross-lagged panel design largely supported the hypothesized relationships, but with exceptions and nuances.