Stimulating creative behaviors in the work environment: influences of employee engagement, authentic leadership, and human capital factors on employee creativity

Abstract

This paper investigates employee engagement, authentic leadership and human capital factors’ influences on the creative behaviors of bank employees within Nigeria’s banking industry. This investigation’s sample was taken from a selection of banks (Guarantee Trust Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, and United Bank For Africa Plc) across the Lagos and Ibadan cities of Lagos and Oyo States, Nigeria. This paper adopts a survey study approach, and questionnaires were randomly circulated. However, out of the 300 questionnaires distributed, 273 were fit to be used for the research and analyzed via statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS vs. 26). The current findings suggest that the younger the bank employees, the more creative they are. The higher their educational level and work experience, the more creative they are within Nigeria’s banking industry. The current investigation further established that employee engagement and authentic leadership significantly and positively influence creativity amongst employees within Nigeria’s banking industry. Therefore, the management of the Nigerian banks needs to consider spurring of employees’ sense of belonging and engagement to help stimulate and nurture their creativity. They should also consider essential authentic leadership training for their managers to help them discharge their leadership functions, related to the positive development of their subordinates’ creative behaviors and the human capital factors in stimulating employee creativity.