Transformational leadership,workplace spirituality and employee well-being : a mixed method study

Abstract

This thesis explores empirical relationships between three phenomena in a health care organization, namely transformational leadership, workplace spirituality and employee well-being. A mixed method research program was developed and implemented in the form of three studies. In the first study, multilevel modeling was used to analyze survey data from a sample of 273 health care workers and test a proposed mediation model. As hypothesized, regression and mediation analyses revealed the effects of transformational leadership on employees' emotional and spiritual well-being were fully mediated by workplace spirituality. In the second study, a field experiment with 243 health care workers in the same organization was used to test the longitudinal effects of a training intervention related to transformational leadership. Again, multilevel analyses were used to analyze survey data collected at two time intervals, with a three month time lapse, and demonstrated a significant main effect of training. As in the first study, subsequent regression and mediation analyses demonstrated support for the hypothesized mediation model, but only relative to employees' emotional well-being. In the final qualitative study, in-depth interviews were used to explore the experiences of a select group of seven leaders who had participated in the training study and experienced the greatest increases in mean leadership ratings. This study revealed a definite focus on two dimensions of transformational leadership behaviour, namely individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation. The interviews also revealed that the challenges faced by leaders implementing their goals were both personal and organizational. Participants identified numerous benefits from their training, including increased communication, improved collaboration and, in some cases, better work group relations. Based on the findings of all three studies, a research agenda is proposed to explore in greater detail various aspects of these findings. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.