Employee strengths have been identified as important factors for job performance. However, there has been insufficient research to strengths-based leadership as a leadership style for enhancing employee strengths and performance. This study highlights the path and conditions under which strengths-based leadership improves job performance. Based on survey data from 271 employees working in Korean firms, we examined the indirect effect of strengths-based leadership on job performance via thriving at work, as well as the moderating effect of job-related self-efficacy. Our empirical test found that strengths-based leadership positively effect on job performance. Moreover, thriving at work positively mediates the relationship between strengths-based leadership and job performance. Meanwhile, we found that moderating effect and moderated mediating effect of job-related self-efficacy among the above relationships. This study contributes to organizational behavior and leadership studies by testing how strengths-based leadership enhances job performance, while offering practical implications for managers.