Abstract: In the era of rapid development of digital economy, leadership empowerment behavior is an importance practice to motivate employees. To deeply investigate the effect of leadership empowerment behavior on employees, this study aims to explore the mechanism of the “double-edged sword” effects of leadership empowerment behavior on employees based on conservation resource theory. Specifically, first, from the perspective of resource, empowerment is viewed as a kind of resource which is provided from leader to employees. Then we deeply analyze the “enabling” mechanism and “burdening” mechanism induced by leadership empowerment behavior. Employees’ regulatory focus is considered as the boundary condition influencing the “double-edged sword” impacts. Secondly, leadership empowerment behavior is regarded as dynamic changing. We explore how daily leadership empowerment behavior and the fluctuation of leadership empowerment behavior cause the “double-edged sword” effects. Third, we consider organizational context in which leadership empowerment behavior happens as dynamic changing. We explore how the relative dynamic situation, namely work events influence the “double-edged sword” effects of leadership empowerment behavior. This study aims to combine both qualitative study and quantitative study to systematically explore the mechanism of the “double-edged sword” impacts of leadership empowerment behavior on employees, contributing to both academic research and practical implications.

Key words: leadership empowerment behavior, conservation resource theory, work events, thriving at work, emotional exhaustion