Unleashing innovation through employee voice behavior in the hotel industry: the impact of ambidextrous leadership on innovative work behavior

Purpose In today's dynamic and competitive business environment, organizations strive to foster innovation as a key driver of success. To achieve this, leaders play a critical role in promoting innovative work behavior among employees. This study is based on finding the effect of ambidextrous leadership on innovative work behavior with employee voice behavior as a mediator and employee moral identity as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach This study is conducted on Pakistan's hotel and restaurant industry. Drawing upon a sample of 410 valid responses from employees from various hotels, data is collected using self-report questionnaires. Findings The study revealed that ambidextrous leadership is positively related to innovative work behavior, and employee voice behavior mediated their relationship very well. However, ambidextrous leadership generates more positive and creative outcomes for the organization if it accompanies employee voice. Moreover, employees with a stronger moral identity are more likely to engage in voice behavior when they perceive ambidextrous leadership practices. Practical implications In Pakistan's hotel industry, developing leadership programs that focus on ambidextrous leadership, encouraging employee voice, and aligning with employees' moral values are key to fostering innovation. Organizations should cultivate a culture of openness, trust, and recognition, alongside implementing systems that reward innovative contributions. It's crucial to provide opportunities for skill development, decision-making participation, and a sense of ownership among employees. Moreover, providing necessary resources and supporting a culture that embraces experimentation and learning from failures are fundamental for sustained innovation. Originality/value By adopting ambidextrous leadership practices, leaders can stimulate employee voice behavior, which, in turn, contributes to the development of innovative work behavior. Furthermore, understanding the importance of employee moral identity can help leaders tailor their leadership approaches to create an ethical work environment that promotes employee engagement and innovation.