Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation

This mixed-method investigation forays into the influence mechanism of self-sacrificial leadership on employees’ retention intention in exhibition enterprises under crises. In study 1 (the qualitative inquiry), in-depth interviews with 20 employees were conducted, and a process mechanism model was c...

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Main Authors: Hui Zhang, Yueyue Tan, Shujing Long, Jing Guo, Ruobing Li, Qiao Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-08-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251363306
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author Hui Zhang
Yueyue Tan
Shujing Long
Jing Guo
Ruobing Li
Qiao Zhou
author_facet Hui Zhang
Yueyue Tan
Shujing Long
Jing Guo
Ruobing Li
Qiao Zhou
author_sort Hui Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This mixed-method investigation forays into the influence mechanism of self-sacrificial leadership on employees’ retention intention in exhibition enterprises under crises. In study 1 (the qualitative inquiry), in-depth interviews with 20 employees were conducted, and a process mechanism model was constructed on how self-sacrificial leadership affects employee retention intention, following a story line of “action strategy→phenomenon→result.” In study 2 (the quantitative research), we use social exchange theory and social identity theory to build a structural equation model, which verifies the positive impact of self-sacrificial leadership on employee retention intention through 404 valid questionnaires, and tests the mediating role of organizational identification. In addition, political capital is found to strengthen the relationship between self-sacrificial leadership and employee organizational identification, while employee job insecurity plays an inverted U-shaped moderating role that first strengthens but subsequently weakens during the process of self-sacrificial leadership. In conclusion, this study reveals the functional mechanism of self-sacrificial leadership in exhibition enterprises under crises, verifies the boundary conditions of self-sacrificial leadership, and provides practical implications for sustainability and human capital development for exhibition enterprises under crises.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2158-2440
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publisher SAGE Publishing
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series SAGE Open
spelling doaj-art-311ece1692a548bfacb025a63246720e2025-08-23T09:03:23ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402025-08-011510.1177/21582440251363306Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method InvestigationHui Zhang0Yueyue Tan1Shujing Long2Jing Guo3Ruobing Li4Qiao Zhou5 Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, ChinaThis mixed-method investigation forays into the influence mechanism of self-sacrificial leadership on employees’ retention intention in exhibition enterprises under crises. In study 1 (the qualitative inquiry), in-depth interviews with 20 employees were conducted, and a process mechanism model was constructed on how self-sacrificial leadership affects employee retention intention, following a story line of “action strategy→phenomenon→result.” In study 2 (the quantitative research), we use social exchange theory and social identity theory to build a structural equation model, which verifies the positive impact of self-sacrificial leadership on employee retention intention through 404 valid questionnaires, and tests the mediating role of organizational identification. In addition, political capital is found to strengthen the relationship between self-sacrificial leadership and employee organizational identification, while employee job insecurity plays an inverted U-shaped moderating role that first strengthens but subsequently weakens during the process of self-sacrificial leadership. In conclusion, this study reveals the functional mechanism of self-sacrificial leadership in exhibition enterprises under crises, verifies the boundary conditions of self-sacrificial leadership, and provides practical implications for sustainability and human capital development for exhibition enterprises under crises.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251363306
spellingShingle Hui Zhang
Yueyue Tan
Shujing Long
Jing Guo
Ruobing Li
Qiao Zhou
Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
SAGE Open
title Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
title_full Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
title_fullStr Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
title_short Effect of Self-Sacrificial Leadership on Organizational Identity and Employee Retention During Crisis: A Mixed Method Investigation
title_sort effect of self sacrificial leadership on organizational identity and employee retention during crisis a mixed method investigation
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251363306
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