Impression management motive and voice: Moderating effects of self-monitoring, self-efficacy, and voice instrumentality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how employees' impression management motive influences their voice by considering dispositional and situational variables. Drawing on the theory of self-motive, we hypothesized that voice would be more positively related to impression management motive than prosocial motive. In addition, based on the interactional approach of motive and trait and trait activation theory, we hypothesized that the relationship between impression management motive and voice would be moderated by self-monitoring, self-efficacy, and voice instrumentality. Using a sample of 307 supervisor-subordinate dyads from South Korea, we found that, although prosocial motive had a positive influence on voice, impression management motive had a stronger influence on voice than prosocial motive. We also found that the positive influence of impression management motive on voice was stronger for employees with high levels of self-monitoring, self-efficacy, and voice instrumentality. This study helps verify the boundary conditions as to when impression management motive is strongly related to voice. In addition, this study will provide theoretical clues for resolving the inconsistent findings on the relationship between impression management motive and voice.