Impact of leadership styles on entrepreneurial mindset: The role of emotional intelligence, creativity and risk-taking ability

Abstract

The entrepreneurial mindset is widely recognized as a key driver of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth. Leadership styles play a decisive role in shaping this mindset by influencing individuals’ psychological and behavioral capacities. The present study empirically examines the impact of leadership styles on entrepreneurial mindset, with particular emphasis on the mediating roles of emotional intelligence, creativity, and risk-taking ability. The study is based on primary data collected from 300 respondents comprising management students, early-stage entrepreneurs, and working professionals in India. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire with standardized Likert-scale instruments. Statistical techniques such as reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed using SPSS. The results indicate that transformational and democratic leadership styles exert a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial mindset, whereas autocratic leadership has a weaker and comparatively insignificant effect. Emotional intelligence, creativity, and risk-taking ability were found to partially mediate the relationship between leadership styles and entrepreneurial mindset. The study contributes to entrepreneurial leadership literature by providing an integrated empirical model and offers practical implications for entrepreneurship education, leadership development, and policy formulation.