Being creative while playing safe: The Role of Leaders’ Regulatory Focus on Fostering Creative and Safety Ambidextrous Behaviours

Abstract

Most research has explored ambidexterity at the organisational level and very limited research is available on individual ambidextrous behaviours. This research paper reviews the role of leaders’ regulatory focus in promoting individual ambidexterity in the form of creativity and safety. The main aim is to contribute to ambidexterity and self-regulatory literature by examining the role of leaders’ regulatory focus in managing ambidextrous behaviours. Ambidexterity is the ability to manage conflicting task demands, which poses a fundamental self-regulatory and motivational challenge in the process of pursuing different goals.