Drawing on Leader–Member Exchange theory, this study examines how leader gratitude expression influences employee innovation performance through perceived supervisor support and taking charge. Based on survey data from 410 enterprise employees, the results show that leader gratitude expression is positively related to employee innovation performance and perceived supervisor support. Perceived supervisor support is positively associated with taking charge, which in turn promotes employee innovation performance. Further bootstrap analysis confirms the sequential mediating effect of perceived supervisor support and taking charge. This study extends research on leader gratitude expression and identifies a psychological–behavioral pathway through which leader gratitude expression is associated with employee innovation performance.
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