The present study addresses the critical realm of leadership behaviours that can help improve employee adaptive performance. Responding to this vital workforce performance demand, the current research identifies superior-expressed humility as a potential precursor of adaptive performance. Grounded in the self-determination and social-cognitive theories, the study sheds light on the motivational mechanisms underlying the association between superior-expressed humility and adaptive performance, highlighting the mediating influence of harmonious passion. Additionally, the study explores the moderating influence of occupational self-efficacy between harmonious passion and adaptive performance. The data were gathered through vignette-based surveys from 450 superior-subordinate dyads from Indian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. AMOS and SPSS Hayes PROCESS Macro were used to analyse the data and test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that the positive association between superior-expressed humility and adaptive performance is partially mediated via harmonious passion. Moreover, the study yielded intriguing results that challenge conventional assumptions regarding the interplay between occupational self-efficacy, harmonious passion and adaptive performance. By illuminating a novel mediated moderation model, the present research, thus, provides human resource professionals and organizational leaders with empirically grounded insights to cultivate an adaptable workforce.
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