۱- Introduction

۲- Conceptual background

۳- Hypotheses

۴- Research method

۵- Data analysis

۶- Discussion and implications

۷- Conclusion

References

Abstract

Examining leadership from a competency perspective allows scholars to understand different dimensions of leader qualities and capacities. From this perspective, our study, based on social capital theory, proposed and tested a model that embraced the concepts of leader competency, knowledge sharing, employee job performance, and employee loyalty in the context of expatriate general managers. The study shows leader competencies are critical for promoting knowledge sharing and enhancing employee job performance. Both knowledge sharing and employee job performance are found to have a direct effect on employee loyalty.

Introduction

Well-performing service employees can be an asset and leaders play a critical role in influencing employees’ performance and the organization’s success. This is no exception to hotel organizations faced with increasing competition in the market place (e.g., Airbnb.com). Given the significant impact of leaders, numerous studies examined leader competencies (e.g., Shum, Gatling, & Shoemaker, 2018). Key research questions such as “what are the required qualities and skills of competent leaders?” and “what are the outcomes of leader competencies?” have surfaced and drawn attention, proliferating research in this field. Examining leadership from a competency perspective allows scholars to understand different dimensions of leader qualities and capacities. Although many studies (e.g., Han, Seo, Yeo, & Yoon, 2016; Masa’deh, Obeidat, & Tarhini, 2016) examined leadership style (e.g., transformational leadership), much less attention has been given to leader competencies in the hotel industry. Our study, by examining leader competencies in the hotel industry, will identify a set of required skills for hotel leaders and guide the hotel industry to develop and assess leaders. Knowledge sharing is recognized as an important social asset for organizations that improve job performance and enhance organizational success (Masa’deh et al., 2016; Razmerita, Kirchner, & Nielsen, 2016). We view that a leader plays a crucial part in creating and nurturing a knowledge sharing culture in the organization.