Purpose:
Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study examines a dual-pathway model in which time pressure influences innovative behaviors through distinct coping strategies: a positive pathway via problem-focused coping (job crafting) and a negative pathway via emotion-focused coping (emotional exhaustion). Additionally, temporal leadership is introduced as a moderator shaping these relationships.


Method and Results:
Data were collected from 264 employees across two time points and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.0. Results indicate that: (1) time pressure positively predicts both job crafting and emotional exhaustion; (2) job crafting enhances innovative behaviors, whereas emotional exhaustion suppresses it; (3) job crafting and emotional exhaustion mediate the relationship between time pressure and innovative behaviors in opposing directions; (4) temporal leadership strengthens the positive link between time pressure and job crafting, while attenuating the relationship between time pressure and emotional exhaustion; and (5) temporal leadership moderates the two indirect effects, reinforcing the mediating role of job crafting and mitigating that of emotional exhaustion.


Conclusions:
Theoretically, this study advances the literature by delineating a stress-coping framework underlying the dual effect of time pressure and introducing temporal leadership as a key boundary condition. Practically, it highlights the importance of developing leaders' temporal management skills to help employees harness time pressure constructively and foster an innovation-conducive climate.