<p>Fostering helping behavior among employees is critical for enhancing team effectiveness and achieving organizational goals. Drawing on social exchange theory (SET), this study examines how esprit de corps—a collective spirit of unity and support—promotes helping behavior through felt obligation and how leader-member exchange (LMX) ambivalence disrupts this process. In Korean police agencies—a high-stakes organizational context—we explore how LMX ambivalence, characterized by mixed evaluations of leadership, creates uncertainty about team resources and weakens the link between esprit de corps and felt obligation. Our findings contribute to social exchange theory by demonstrating how a team-level resource (esprit de corps) shapes individual helping behavior through felt obligation toward the organization, with this process being contingent on leadership consistency. These findings provide practical insights for organizations seeking to leverage team spirit while mitigating the adverse effects of leadership inconsistencies, particularly in hierarchical, collectivist environments where authority relationships are paramount.</p>