Unpacking The Influence of Coaching Style Leadership on Startup Performance: The Serial Mediation of Entrepreneurial Passion and Entrepreneurial Satisfaction

Abstract

In an ever-changing environment of entrepreneurship in the current society, leadership is a key factor that dictates the destiny of startup success. The projected paper will analyze the relationship between Coaching Style Leadership (CSL) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Goal Setting Theory (GST) and Startup Performance (SUP). Particularly, it is concerned with the successive mediating effects Entrepreneurial Passion (EP), and Entrepreneurial Satisfaction (ES) in the correlation between CSL and SUP. Taking information on 272 new business starters at different incubation centers in Pakistan, the research uses quantitative methods to ensure that the model proposed is correct. The results demonstrate that CSL has a great role in boosting SUP, with the EP and ES playing a key mediating role. It is worth noting that the findings are congruent in ascertaining that EP and ES sequentially mediates the relationship between CSL and SUP, where the use of coaching style by leaders will ensure that the entrepreneurs demonstrate greater passion and satisfaction, which ultimately leads to better performance. The study adds to the existing body of literature on entrepreneurial leadership, indicating the associated psychological processes, in which the leadership behavior affects startup performance. Practical implications of using incubators, startup founders and policymakers are mentioned.