Leadership and Innovation: A Qualitative Review of Psychological Factors Influencing Organizational Creativity

In innovation-dependent organizations, leadership plays a central role in shaping psychological conditions that facilitate employee creativity. This qualitative study investigated how leadership behaviors influence psychological enablers of creativity — psychological safety, trust, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy — in Bangladeshi organizations. Using phenomenological approach with 15 in-depth interviews, thematic analysis revealed that leaders who promote open dialogue and delegate responsibility foster creative environments. The study highlights the importance of psychological leadership for nurturing emotional and motivational states that enable innovation.