Exploring the Link Between Purpose-driven Leadership and Extra-role Behavior: The Mediating Roles of Engagement and Justice

This study examines the relationship between purpose-driven leadership and extra-role behavior, focusing on the mediating effects of employee engagement and organizational justice. A delayed-response field survey was conducted among 447 employees from 21 Croatian organizations. Mediation analysis revealed that purpose-driven leadership indirectly affects extra-role behavior through full mediation by employee engagement and organizational justice. These findings underscore that employee engagement and organizational justice are essential psychological mechanisms linking leadership and employees’ discretionary behaviors. Introducing the concept of purpose-driven leadership to the Croatian context, this study offers novel insights into how leadership fosters positive workplace outcomes. The results provide practical implications for managers, highlighting the importance of aligning leadership strategies with engagement and justice to enhance extra-role behavior. However, limitations arise from data collection from a single source and the involvement of both private and public sector organizations, suggesting avenues for further research.