Study On The Influence Of School Principals’ Authentic Leadership On Teachers’ Innovative Work Behavior

The goal of high-quality education in the new era has placed new demands on the construction of a high-quality teaching force.The innovative work of teachers not only contributes to the development of innovative talent but also to their own growth,and is therefore of great importance to the development of a high-quality teaching force.As the leader of the school organisation and the first person responsible for the professional development of teachers,changes in the way principals lead have a profound impact on the school organisation and on individual teachers.Authentic leadership has received much attention because of its role in shaping "moral and ethical" leaders.In view of this,this study focuses on the mechanisms by which authentic leadership by principals affects teachers’ innovative behaviour in the secondary school context.The study uses social cognitive theory,social exchange theory and uncertainty reduction theory as a framework for analysis,and constructs a research model that uses school climate of innovation and teachers’ self-efficacy for innovation as a chain mediator.Statistical analysis software such as SPSS 25.0 and Smart PLS 3.3.9 were used to conduct descriptive statistical analysis,difference tests,measurement model tests and structural model tests on the data from questionnaires completed by 974 secondary school teachers.Finally,the results of the data analysis were interpreted and supplemented by interviews to summarise the dilemmas and the support received by teachers in their innovative work.The findings indicate that:(1)the overall status of authentic leadership by principals,school climate,teachers’ creative self-efficacy and teachers’ innovative behaviour are all moderately high,with differences in each dimension.(2)principals’ authentic leadership,school climate,teachers’ creative self-efficacy and teacher innovative behaviour were all influenced by teacher demographic variables.(3)principals’ authentic leadership positively influences teachers’ innovative behaviour exclusively through the chain mediator of school climate and teachers’ creative selfefficacy.(4)Innovative self-efficacy partially mediated the positive effect of school climate on teachers’ innovative work behaviours.Based on the mechanisms of authentic leadership of principals on teachers’ innovative behaviour,this study suggests three strategies for principals to promote teachers’ innovative behaviour in order to facilitate the construction of a high-quality teaching force,namely,to put ethics first and make good value judgments;to emphasise school climate and create a good atmosphere;and to promote multi-governance and facilitate innovative development.