Unveiling the mechanisms by which inclusive leadership influences the good soldier syndrome among health-care employees

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between inclusive leadership (IL), psychological safety (PS), affective commitment (AC) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) at the workplace. By understanding the sequential linkages, the research aims to provide insights for fostering a positive organizational culture that promotes employee commitment and employees’ willingness to go the extra mile for the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors study how IL and OCB are related through PS and AC. For this purpose, cross-sectional data from 384 nursing professionals in India was collected and structural equation modeling was conducted on the same using IBM AMOS.

Findings

The study found that IL has a major impact on OCB. The study further found that perceived IL leads to PS which is associated with OCB through AC.

Research limitations/implications

The study has many theoretical and practical implications. This study uses a framework that is based on Affective events theory. In a health-care environment, IL can foster AC by promoting a culture of respect, collaboration and value for diverse perspectives, which enhances health-care professionals’ emotional attachment to their work and the organization. Additionally, by encouraging open communication and a sense of belonging, IL contributes to OCB, as health-care staff are more likely to engage in discretionary behaviors that support the overall effectiveness and positive functioning of the health-care team if PS is improved, ultimately improving patient care outcomes.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the primary studies that looks into the sequential mechanism through which IL impacts OCB.

Citation

Joshy, L. and Varghese, R. (2024), "Unveiling the mechanisms by which inclusive leadership influences the good soldier syndrome among health-care employees", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-11-2023-0089