Self-serving leadership and knowledge hiding in MNEs: Examining the roles of emotional exhaustion and thriving at work

Knowledge is an important resource for the development of individuals and the successful operation of companies, yet knowledge hiding (KH) within organizations is universal. Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the relationship between self-serving leadership (SSL) and individual KH through a moderated mediation model of emotional exhaustion (EE) and thriving at work (TAW). Two-wave survey data is collected from employees working in MNEs operating in China. The results show that SSL positively affects individual KH, and that EE plays a mediating role in this process. TAW negatively moderates the effect of EE on KH, and further moderates the indirect effect of SSL on employees’ KH behavior through EE. Implications for theory, practice and future research are also discussed. The novel process that links SSL and individual KH behavior enriches the leadership-KH literature. Linking EE and TAW to the leadership-KH relationship further extends the mechanisms and boundary conditions that may influence KH. The main practical suggestions are to optimize the human resource management strategy and establish a positive corporate atmosphere.