The continuous change process in which today’s society is immersed increasingly requires leaders to behave ethically and consider all stakeholders in the company (Al-Asadi et al., 2019). As a result, leadership has evolved from approaches that are more focused on how the personality of the leader influences individuals (e.g., transactional or transformational leadership) to more holistic approaches to leadership, such as servant leadership (SL), which is more focused on the individuals themselves (Panaccio et al., 2015).
Previous research has generally indicated a positive effect of SL on employee outcomes (Bavik, Bavik, and Tang, 2017; Lu, Falahat, and Cheah, 2024). However, more work is necessary to ascertain how and through what mechanisms SL influences such outcomes (Lu et al., 2024). In this regard, we have identified a fundamental element: technological adaptation. For many years, there has been a trend towards the digital transformation of companies, a process that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic situation. As the need for technological adaptation of companies is affecting most industries, the role that technology assumes for all parties in firms must be considered today.
This study examines the influence of SL and technological adaptation capability (TAC) on employees’ organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), using a sample of 53 leaders and 481 knowledge workers responsible for sports training activities that require advanced knowledge and empathy in fitness centres in Spain.
Our results indicate that establishing a TAC, by which knowledge workers encourage subordinates to make their own technological tool choices, is feasible and positively mediates the relationship between SL and OCB. The identification of SL as a catalyst for knowledge-sharing behaviour is largely consistent with the conclusions of authors such as Srivastava, Bartol and Locke (2006), who assert that servant leaders provide guidance and recognition to employees, thereby creating the context in organizations for sharing knowledge.