Title: Mediating effect of psychological empowerment in the relationship between positive leadership behaviour and flourishing

Authors: R. Sunil Kumar; Harold Andrew Patrick

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

Abstract: Globally, organisations are aware of the importance of psychological empowerment and employee well-being. Both positive leadership behaviour and flourishing have been seen from a strategic viewpoint within the human resource function, especially in the information technology sector. Today, organisations are focusing more on employee flourishing, incorporating thereby two dimensions of happiness; namely, feeling good and functioning well. This study aims at investigating the mediating effect of psychological empowerment on positive leadership behaviour and flourishing. Three standardised, valid and reliable scales were used for collecting responses from 203 employees who participated in this study from the top ten information technology (IT) organisations in India. The results indicate that employees moderately experienced positive leadership behaviours from their supervisors, resulting in their psychological empowerment at the workplace, which in turn help them flourish. Psychological empowerment mediated the relationship between positive leadership behaviour and flourishing. A model was developed and tested, and it was found to be a good fit. Implications of the study are discussed in the context of employees working in IT organisations. There is a need to develop specific strategies for leaders to engage in positive leadership approaches at the workplace and enhance psychological empowerment of employees for organisational success.

Keywords: positive leadership behaviour; PLB; psychological empowerment; flourishing; information technology organisation; organisational behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2022.127369

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2022 Vol.32 No.2/3, pp.264 - 286

Received: 18 Jul 2019
Accepted: 05 Jan 2020
Published online: 01 Dec 2022 *

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