Leading the Innovation: Influence of Servant Leadership Style on Innovative Work Behavior in Private Research-Intensive Universities of Lahore

At the moment, universities are more likely to ask their professors to come up with inventive ways to improve performance and deal with the problems of staying ahead of the competition. As faculty shifts from a period of productivity to one of invention, it is essential to modify the leadership strategy. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between servant leadership style and innovative work behavior among professors in private research-intensive institutions (RIUs) in Lahore. A quantitative research approach employing a cross-sectional design was executed, utilizing a survey method to collect data through a closed-ended structured questionnaire administered to 140 faculty members across three RIUs. After gathering the data, it was analyzed using SPSS and Smart PLS-SEM 4.0.0 statistical software, focusing on the correlations between the variables and how strong they were. The results revealed that the servant leadership style has a very positive influence on innovative work behavior, with a beta coefficient of 0.762. It is also important to look at the IWB in the perspective of servant leadership in public universities and in different parts of the world. This research illuminates the relationship between servant leadership style and innovative work behavior.