Staying Strong Amid Rudeness: How Self-Control Protects Idea Champions from Burnout

What is it about?

This study investigates how workplace incivility—subtle disrespect and rude behavior among colleagues—can discourage employees from championing new ideas, and how turnover intentions and dispositional self-control shape this process. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the research proposes that incivility drains employees’ emotional and motivational resources, prompting thoughts of leaving their jobs, which in turn reduces their willingness to advocate for innovative ideas. Using survey data from employees in a large Mexican retail organization, the study finds that workplace incivility increases turnover intentions, which in turn reduce idea championing. When employees feel disrespected, they mentally withdraw, conserving energy instead of driving improvements. However, those with strong self-control—able to regulate impulses and stay focused under stress—are less affected, resisting quitting thoughts and remaining creative. In contrast, employees with low self-control are more prone to frustration and disengagement. These findings highlight the importance of both personal control and respectful workplace cultures. Even in stressful, competitive sectors like retail, employees who maintain emotional discipline can keep championing innovation despite incivility.

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is novel in linking workplace incivility, quitting intentions, and idea championing through the lens of COR theory, while demonstrating the buffering role of dispositional self-control. It identifies turnover intention as a key psychological mechanism through which rudeness drains employees’ energy for innovation and shows that self-control can interrupt this spiral. By emphasizing personal resource management, the research broadens understanding of how employees maintain creativity and advocacy under adverse social conditions. It is also timely, given the rise of incivility in high-pressure workplaces where stress and competition are common. Conducted in Mexico’s retail sector, where employees face strong social interdependence and cultural norms of respect, the findings demonstrate how self-control operates as a critical personal resource that sustains innovation amid tension. The study underscores that organizations aiming to foster creativity must not only reduce rudeness but also cultivate employees’ emotional discipline, helping them stay engaged, purposeful, and loyal even in challenging interpersonal climates.