Navigating Contradictions: Exploring the Impact of Paradoxical Leadership on Employee Innovative Performance through Job Crafting and Job Autonomy

Muhammad Tasnim Khan; Nida Siddique; Majd Megheirkouni; Abdul Waheed

doi:10.2478/ijcm-2026-0005

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Navigating Contradictions: Exploring the Impact of Paradoxical Leadership on Employee Innovative Performance through Job Crafting and Job Autonomy

International Journal of Contemporary Management

Volume 62 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

By: Muhammad Tasnim Khan , Nida Siddique , Majd Megheirkouni and Abdul Waheed

Open Access

|May 2026

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the influence of paradoxical leadership (PXL) on employee innovative performance (EIP), highlighting the increasing demand for innovation in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, which is characterized by paradoxes. Grounded in paradox theory, the framework posits that job crafting (JC) serves as a mediator, illustrating how employees proactively reshape their roles in response to PXL dynamics, thereby enhancing EIP. Additionally, the study investigates the moderating role of job autonomy (JA), examining how it strengthens two relationships: (1) the effect of PXL on JC, and (2) the effect of JC on EIP. Data were collected from 326 employees working in ICT firms across four major cities in Pakistan, given the inherent contradictions in their demands. Validated instruments were employed to assess the constructs, and data analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM in RStudio, with the PLSPM and SEMINR packages. The results indicate that JC mediates the positive impact of PXL on EIP. In addition, this relationship is high when job autonomy (JA) moderates the relationship between PXL and JC. The study offers potential insights into the theoretical and managerial implications for the ICT sector.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2026-0005 | Journal eISSN: 2449-8939 | Journal ISSN: 2449-8920

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Language: English

Page range: 91 - 106

Published on: May 6, 2026

Published by: Jagiellonian University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

Paradoxical Leadership,

Employee Innovative Performance,

Job Crafting,

Job Autonomy,

Job Demand-Resource model,

Information and Communication Technology

Related subjects:

Business and economics,

Business management,

Management, organization, corporate governance,

Business management, other,

Industries,

Non profit organizations (NPO), foundations, charities, associations,

Public sector, public private partnerships, public administration

© 2026 Muhammad Tasnim Khan, Nida Siddique, Majd Megheirkouni, Abdul Waheed, published by Jagiellonian University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 62 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)