Supervisor developmental feedback and employees’ proactive innovation behavior

We applied conservation of resources theory to analyze how and when supervisor developmental feedback affects employees’ proactive innovation behavior. Using a three-wave online questionnaire, we collected data from 298 full-time employees in central China. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that supervisor developmental feedback was positively related to employees’ proactive innovation behavior, and emotional exhaustion played a mediating role in this relationship. Additionally, growth need strength moderated the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employees’ emotional exhaustion. The findings contribute to research on the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employees’ proactive innovation behavior, and have practical managerial implications for organizations seeking to boost employee innovation.