Reading Minds, Sparking Ideas: How Machiavellian Leaders Boost Team Creativity Through Cross-Understanding

This study investigates the impact of Machiavellian leadership on team creativity through the mediating role of cross-understanding and the moderating effect of task interdependence. While prior research has emphasized the negative consequences of Machiavellian tendencies, we argue that in highly interdependent team settings—such as project-based groups in technology, manufacturing, and financial enterprises—such leaders may foster constructive processes that enhance innovation. Drawing on social learning and trait activation theories, we conducted a multi-source survey of 86 teams (379 employees) in Chinese organizations. Team members assessed task interdependence and cross-understanding, while leaders reported their own Machiavellian tendencies and rated team creativity. Results show that Machiavellian leadership predicts team creativity indirectly through cross-understanding, with task interdependence strengthening this pathway. Theoretically, this study enriches leadership and creativity research by providing a nuanced view of how dark traits can stimulate team-level creativity through cognitive interaction mechanisms and by identifying task interdependence as a boundary condition. Practically, the findings suggest that organizations should recognize the creative potential of Machiavellian leaders in high-interdependence contexts, channel their ambition toward innovation goals, and design workflows that promote cross-understanding and collaboration.