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1 – 10 of over 3000
Article
Publication date: 2 December 2020

Shaker Bani-Melhem, Faridahwati Mohd. Shamsudin, Rawan Mazen Abukhait and Samina Quratulain

This study expands on research related to the dark side of personality traits by examining how individual dark personality affects proactive work behaviours. Specifically, the…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study expands on research related to the dark side of personality traits by examining how individual dark personality affects proactive work behaviours. Specifically, the authors consider paranoia as a dark personality trait and propose that it negatively relates to perceived psychological safety and indirectly affects frontline employees' (FLEs) willingness to report customer complaints as well as their extra-role customer service. The authors also posit that empathetic leadership is a focal, contextual factor that mitigates the impact of paranoia on perceived psychological safety and, consequently, the willingness to report customer complaints and engage in extra-role customer service behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was tested on a sample of 252 FLEs using process macro (Hayes, 2017) and AMOS. Data were collected from FLEs working in different hospitality organisations using a time-lagged design; supervisor-rated employee extra-role customer service was also measured.

Findings

The authors found that FLEs with a paranoid personality trait had a lesser sense of psychological safety at work, which reduced their willingness to engage in proactive work behaviours. However, this negative effect was mitigated by the presence of an empathetic leader.

Originality/value

The results are important because research has yet to determine which actions managers should take to counter the negative effects of dark personalities in the workplace.

Details

Journal of Service Theory and Practice, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2055-6225

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 August 2016

Mary Margaret Fonow, Judith A. Cook, Richard S. Goldsand and Jane K. Burke-Miller

We explored the potential of the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education as a tool for enhancing mindfulness, body awareness, and perceptions of transformational leadership

Abstract

We explored the potential of the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education as a tool for enhancing mindfulness, body awareness, and perceptions of transformational leadership capacities among college students. The intervention consisted of thirty-two, 1.25-hour long group sessions taught by a certified Feldenkrais instructor twice weekly to 21 undergraduates in the School of Film, Dance and Theatre of a southwestern state university. Students also were required to keep a journal in which they reflected on how they felt prior to and after each class, and then recorded three additional entries during the week with observations about their experiences with thinking, sensing, feeling, and moving. Repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to assess changes in levels of mindfulness, body awareness, and perceived leadership capacities using standardized scales administered at study baseline, midterm, and end of term. Over the semester, students evidenced significantly greater mindfulness, body awareness, and a domain of transformational leadership measuring empathy, controlling for their level of stress at the time of final exams. To meet the needs of today’s college students, our results suggest that the Feldenkrais Method shows promise as an intervention to promote mindfulness, body awareness, and empathic leadership.

Details

Journal of Leadership Education, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1552-9045

Article
Publication date: 7 February 2024

Chrisalena Athanasiadou, Georgios Theriou and Dimitrios Chatzoudes

This study aims to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affected the attitudes and behaviors of employees in the European aviation industry amidst the COVID-19…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affected the attitudes and behaviors of employees in the European aviation industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore any moderating effect of empathetic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the social identity and social exchange theories, a research model was developed and tested against empirical data collected from employees of the European aviation industry, in 2021. Structural equation modeling and regression analyses were used for testing the hypothesized causal relationships.

Findings

Perceived CSR is directly related to work engagement and indirectly associated with work engagement and job insecurity via organizational pride. The presence of an empathetic leader does not intensify the effects of perceptions of CSR on organizational pride. Work engagement, in turn, impacts organizational citizenship behavior, while no such effect of job insecurity is supported.

Originality/value

This study provides insight into the underlying mechanisms via which CSR affects employees during a crisis. It, also, has significant implications on human resources management within the industries severely affected by the pandemic.

Details

International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, vol. 27 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1093-4537

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 June 2021

Mariane Lemos Lourenço, Mara Rosalia Ribeiro Silva and Rafael Santana Galvão Oliveira

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between empathy and social responsibility (SR) practices in a university organization in Brazil during the COVID-19…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between empathy and social responsibility (SR) practices in a university organization in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was qualitative, using case study methodology. The case study was about the Brazilian organization Ânima Educação, which is the greatest among the five largest publicly traded education companies in Brazil. Secondary data collection and content analysis was carried out.

Findings

As emotional response toward the problems caused by the pandemic, the company's leadership adopted an empathic behavior, allowing traces of its empathic culture to emerge. Empathy was expressed through the implementation of SR practices aimed at workers (policy of not firing in the first two months of the pandemic), at students (provision of technological apparatus, online classes, physical/psychological assistance and negotiation of late fees) and at the society (assistance to the elderly).

Originality/value

It was concluded that empathy can be taken as the emotional motivator for companies to engage in SR practices, especially in extreme circumstances in society, as the economic and health challenges that the world is experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic nowadays. SR practices, in turn, can foster even more empathy in organizations, mobilizing leaders and their respective groups in the creation and implementation of new practices, thus demonstrating that the relationship between empathy and SR practices is a “two-way street.”

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 28 November 2022

Ileana Zeler, Cristina Fuentes-Lara and Ángeles Moreno

This paper aims to explore the position of women in the communication management sector in Spain from their own experiences. The study examines female communication and leadership

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the position of women in the communication management sector in Spain from their own experiences. The study examines female communication and leadership styles, emphasising the cost of leadership in which they are leaders or led.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews with 22 women actively working in top companies and agencies: female communication directors, female employees with a female leader and female employees with a male leader. Data were analysed through thematic analysis.

Findings

Results show mixed communication and leadership styles. In addition, the high level of self-demand of female communication managers stands out, making it challenging to achieve a work-life balance and the implementation of successful role models.

Social implications

Exploring the factors of female leadership remains necessary to understand and make their situation in various industries and positions visible. It also helps remove barriers to leadership, guide organisations in addressing gender discrimination issues and develop mechanisms for the internal promotion of female professionals.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study exploring the leadership and communication styles of women in the Spanish Public Relations (PR) and communication management industries. It also highlights the aspects influencing the cost of leadership.

Details

Corporate Communications: An International Journal, vol. 27 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-3289

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 November 2021

Reginald Silver and Mark Martin

At the nexus of servant leadership and empathic care, this paper aims to explore the perceptions that mid-level practitioners express regarding the role that servant leadership

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Abstract

Purpose

At the nexus of servant leadership and empathic care, this paper aims to explore the perceptions that mid-level practitioners express regarding the role that servant leadership plays in fostering an environment of empathic care.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed mid-level practitioners across a large integrated health system (n = 167). Through exploratory factor analysis, we identify factors that serve as antecedents to an environment of empathic care. The factor analysis was complimented with partial least squares structural equation modeling to test a theoretical model of empathic care.

Findings

The model explains approximately 37% of the variance observed in an empathic care environment (R2 = 0.372). The authors identify key constructs within servant leadership that health-care leaders can focus their efforts on to promote an environment of empathic care.

Originality/value

This study answers multiple calls for more empirical research into servant leadership and is one of the few studies that explores servant leadership within an exogeneous context. This research focuses on the perceptions of mid-level providers, whereas most extant servant leadership and empathy research focuses on the perceptions of patients. The authors extend servant leadership theory in a health-care context and support prior findings that servant leadership is a multidimensional construct. The authors outline a sound methodological approach for investigating the linkage between specific principles of servant leadership that can serve as predictors for the creation of an environment of empathic care.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2021

Vishal Arghode, Ann Lathan, Meera Alagaraja, Kumaran Rajaram and Gary N. McLean

This paper aims to conceptualize and discuss empathic organizational culture and leadership along with organizational implications.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualize and discuss empathic organizational culture and leadership along with organizational implications.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed literature to conceptualize empathic organizational culture and leadership. They referred to Hofstede’s organizational culture concept and studies on empathy to explore how leader–follower relationships are influenced by a leader’s empathic disposition.

Findings

Organizational leadership is instrumental in shaping employee performance. While work design, culture, peer support and resource accessibility are discernible, leadership style, control and others are covert. Leaders’ empathic attitudes and dispositions can positively influence organizational functions for improved performance. This review suggests that organizational culture should support growth, proper functioning and effective coordination between employees for improved organizational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The authors conducted searches in leadership and management journals to help conceptualize leaders’ empathic disposition. Future researchers may explore other bodies of literature and the cultural demographic differences in exhibiting empathic leadership and its effectiveness. Researchers can explore how empathic culture relates to job motivation, satisfaction and commitment. The authors suggest that future research may explore how employees’ and supervisors’ behaviors and interactions can create an empathic organizational culture.

Practical implications

The authors identify the characteristics in an empathic leader to articulate the role of empathy in leadership. Alignment between person, group norms and organizational values is more important than the existence of culture.

Originality/value

Empathy is studied by researchers from various disciplines. Similarly, employee well-being has received attention from organizational researchers from many fields. However, researchers have given inadequate attention to conceptualizing an empathic organizational culture and its interrelationship with leadership. The authors offer a more positive perspective to the leader-member exchange (LMX) research by describing how leaders can sustain positive relationships with employees rather than the purely transactional exchanges that characterize LMX.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 46 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

Feifei Chen and Qiwei Luna Wu

This study explored how organizational leaders at different hierarchical levels may communicatively enhance employees' health and well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explored how organizational leaders at different hierarchical levels may communicatively enhance employees' health and well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, it proposed a model that connects health-oriented leadership communication at supervisory and executive levels with remote workers' self-care and stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected through a survey of 363 full-time United States (US) employees were analyzed to test the model.

Findings

Results showed health-oriented communication at the two leadership levels directly influenced employees' self-care, which in turn reduced their stress levels. Further, executive leaders' health-oriented leadership communication indirectly impacted remote workers' self-care through its positive association with supervisors' health-oriented leadership communication.

Practical implications

This study offers much-needed guidelines for executive leaders, supervisors and communication practitioners seeking to meet employees' growing expectations for a healthy work environment in today's post-pandemic era.

Originality/value

Although the literature has established organizational leadership as a vital determinant for a healthy workforce, few studies have explored leaders' health-specific communication to enhance employee health. This study is the first to conceptualize health-oriented leadership communication at dual hierarchical levels and uncover its influence on employees. The results suggested the importance of health-oriented leadership communication across hierarchical levels in building a healthy workplace.

Details

Corporate Communications: An International Journal, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-3289

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 7 June 2016

Gerald F. Burch, Andrew A. Bennett, Ronald H. Humphrey, John H. Batchelor and Athena H. Cairo

Empathy, or the process of feeling or knowing how another feels, is a critical component of social interactions, and may be of particular importance to organizational functioning…

Abstract

Purpose

Empathy, or the process of feeling or knowing how another feels, is a critical component of social interactions, and may be of particular importance to organizational functioning. This chapter addresses a literature gap on empathy in organizational contexts by providing a review of empathy research in a management setting.

Methodology/approach

We integrate the developing field of empathy research and provide a conceptual framework built on Ashkanasy’s (2003) five levels of analysis in emotions research, emphasizing within-person, between-person, interpersonal, group-level, and organization-level processes.

Findings

Our model addresses the complaint that empathy definitions are not consistent by illustrating how the level of analysis alters the view of empathy’s role in organizations.

Research implications

This multi-level model of empathy provides a framework to identify gaps in the empathy literature and make recommendations for future research.

Practical implications

This new model of empathy will help practitioners use and understand empathy by providing a structure of how empathy is manifested in organizational settings.

Originality/value

The field of empathy research has been limited by inconsistent definitions and a lack of a model that outlines how empathy is used in organizations. This multi-level model of empathy provides the necessary framework for researchers and practitioners to advance the research and practice of empathy in organizations.

Details

Emotions and Organizational Governance
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78560-998-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2021

Ayesha Latif Shaikh and Syed Hasnain Alam Kazmi

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the marketing orientation and market-oriented cultural elements of integrated Islamic schools. These integrated schools teach modern…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the marketing orientation and market-oriented cultural elements of integrated Islamic schools. These integrated schools teach modern science curriculum alongside comprehensive religious instruction in an Islamic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an inductive, exploratory research from an interpretivist study. Narrative inquiry was undertaken to understand the perceptions, attitudes and actions of school senior management and teachers. Content analysis of the school websites and social media pages was carried out. In total, 7 schools and 16 respondents became part of the purposive sample.

Findings

The presence of several integrated Islamic schools, experienced Islamic education leadership and Islamic education consultants are evidence of a growing sector. The schools are technologically enabled, strongly customer-oriented and adept at inter-functional coordination. The need-gap found in this sector is in competitor orientation, curriculum development and recruitment of specific criteria-based staff.

Practical implications

With the mushrooming of integrated Islamic schools in Pakistan, the level of competition has also risen. The schools have made a considerable investment and strives to maintain and increase the enrollment rate of the institute. This research can enlighten integrated Islamic educators about effective education marketing practices and the prevalence of marketing orientation in such schools.

Originality/value

In Pakistan, private primary schools strive to differentiate themselves and competitively position their value proposition. The marketization of education has begun to affect perceptions of school staff, teachers, students and academic work itself. Yet, there is scarce exploratory research on marketing done by integrated Islamic primary schools. This study will contribute foundational work for the development of a holistic marketing model tailored to the requirements of integrated Islamic schools.

Details

Journal of Islamic Marketing, vol. 13 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0833

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 3000