A Comparative Research of Paternalistic and Narcissistic Leadership on Intrinsic Motivation: Job Autonomy and Development Culture as Mediating Variables

Abstract

To inspire others, leaders must be visionary, communicate effectively, and possess the ability to motivate, as their actions influence employees' intrinsic motivation. Individuals driven by intrinsic factors find motivation in enjoyment or challenges rather than external rewards, pressure, or products. In contrast, narcissistic leaders perceive themselves as flawless and attribute their success solely to their own efforts, exhibiting traits such as arrogance, extreme self-love, unshakeable confidence, and hostility. n =218 employees were included in this study, in which the mediating role of Job Autonomy (JA) and Development Culture (DC) variables in the Paternalistic Leadership (PL) vs. Narcissistic Leadership (NL) and Intrinsic Motivation (IM) was investigated. The data obtained from volunteer participants from non-profit organisations in Istanbul were analysed by structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that PL positively and significantly affects IM through mediating variables, while NL significantly and negatively affects IM through these factors.