Title: Positive leadership drives work engagement: a perception study of information technology employees

Authors: R. Sunil Kumar; Harold Andrew Patrick

Addresses: CMS Business School (Jain Deemed-to-be-University), No. 17, Sheshadri Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore, 560009, India ' CMS Business School (Jain Deemed-to-be-University), No. 17, Sheshadri Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore, 560009, India

Abstract: Positive behaviour brings in a positive orientation. Business leaders today need to demonstrate effective leadership by developing, recognising and providing quality of work-life to their employees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of positive leadership behaviour on work engagement among employees in Indian information technology organisations. Mixed-method research was adopted, using two standardised, reliable and valid scales administered to 203 software employees, with a minimum of two years' experience. Judgmental sampling technique was adopted to select the companies and respondents. Employees agreed that they experienced positive leadership behaviours from their supervisors, and it increased their work engagement. The study found that positive leadership behaviours significantly influence the work engagement. Strength-based leadership behaviour dimension significantly predicted and influenced work engagement. Implications of the study are discussed, as to how organisations should encourage their immediate supervisors to practice positive leadership and develop strategies to enhance positive leadership approaches.

Keywords: positive leadership behaviour; employee strengths; recognition; positive perspective; work engagement; information technology organisation; organisational behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2022.127356

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2022 Vol.32 No.2/3, pp.141 - 158

Received: 18 Jul 2019
Accepted: 31 Oct 2019
Published online: 01 Dec 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article