Leadership and Employee Well-Being: Fostering a Healthy Work Environment

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the critical role that leadership plays in influencing the well-being of employees (Grawitch et al., 2017). The workplace is no longer viewed solely as a space for completing tasks but as a complex ecosystem where employees' physical, mental, and emotional health are intertwined with organizational success (Judge & Piccolo, 2004). Effective leadership not only drives productivity and performance but also fosters a positive work environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and supported. As organizations continue to navigate through rapid changes and evolving work dynamics, the significance of leadership in promoting employee well-being becomes increasingly evident. Similarly, effective leadership is essential in championing these initiatives, aligning them with the organization's goals, and ensuring their successful implementation.

In this topic, the authors will be able to investigate the role of organizational practices and policies in supporting employee well-being. From flexible work arrangements to wellness programs and initiatives promoting work–life balance, organizations have various tools to create a supportive and healthy work environment. Furthermore, individual leader behaviors and traits will be examined for their impact on employee well-being. Empathy, emotional intelligence, and effective communication are among the qualities that can help leaders connect with their teams, understand their needs, and provide appropriate support. By cultivating a culture of trust, respect, and psychological safety, leaders can empower employees to thrive both personally and professionally.

Dr. Muhammad Asif
Dr. Faiza Manzoor
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Administrative Sciences admsci	3.0	4.8	2011	25.2 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	7.3	2004	24.3 Days	CHF 2500	Submit

MDPI Topics is cooperating with Preprints.org and has built a direct connection between MDPI journals and Preprints.org. Authors are encouraged to enjoy the benefits by posting a preprint at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Immediately share your ideas ahead of publication and establish your research priority;
2. Protect your idea from being stolen with this time-stamped preprint article;
3. Enhance the exposure and impact of your research;
4. Receive feedback from your peers in advance;
5. Have it indexed in Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Administrative Sciences IJERPH

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

13 pages, 794 KiB  

Open AccessEssay

Understanding and Mitigating Leadership Fear-Based Behaviors on Employee and Organizational Success

by Jason A. Hubbart

Adm. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14090225 - 16 Sep 2024

Viewed by 462

Abstract

Leadership behavior profoundly influences organizational culture, serving as a cornerstone for environments that foster safety, innovation, and employee satisfaction. This article utilizes research from the primary literature to demonstrate how leaders’ actions and underlying fears influence organizational dynamics and employee outcomes, highlighting the [...] Read more.

Leadership behavior profoundly influences organizational culture, serving as a cornerstone for environments that foster safety, innovation, and employee satisfaction. This article utilizes research from the primary literature to demonstrate how leaders’ actions and underlying fears influence organizational dynamics and employee outcomes, highlighting the importance of respect, transparency, and trust. Studies have shown that leadership styles shape the work environment, driving innovation and performance. However, concerns over productivity, evaluation, and control can lead to poor communication, low transparency, reduced innovation, and diminished performance, creating a culture of mistrust and anxiety. Authoritarian control or neglect of employees’ needs exacerbates these issues, stifling creativity. The Pygmalion and Golem effects demonstrate how positive reinforcement enhances morale, productivity, and retention, while negative reinforcement is detrimental. Leaders operating under fears of failure or loss of control or political capital inadvertently create a culture of fear and increasingly severe feedback loops of reduced employee trust, satisfaction, and commitment. Addressing these fears fosters open communication, psychological safety, transparency, and mutual respect. Strategies for transforming leadership fears into positive change include promoting open communication, decentralizing decision-making, and implementing positive reinforcement mechanisms. Constructive feedback mechanisms encourage bidirectional communication and help mitigate the negative impacts of leadership fears. Leaders who address their fears can strengthen team trust, enhancing collaboration and engagement. Ultimately, managing leadership fears proactively catalyzes organizational learning and development, promoting a mindset where challenges are seen as opportunities for growth. This approach enhances adaptability and resilience while fostering continuous improvement. Addressing leadership fears and fostering a supportive culture is essential for sustainable productivity and success, serving as a starting point for exploring strategies that support employee performance and development, ultimately contributing to organizational success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Leadership and Employee Well-Being: Fostering a Healthy Work Environment)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-1