Empowerment at work: An empirical study on Empowering Leadership and Psychological Empowerment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/JPM.2020.004

Keywords

Empowering leadership, Psychological Empowerment, Portuguese Workers, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Linear regression

Abstract

Research Purpose: The aim of the present study is threefold. First, it intends to describe workers’ psychological empowerment in a sample of Portuguese workers. Secondly, to describe empowering leadership perceived by employees about their hierarchical superiors. Finally, to examine the relationships between psychological empowerment dimensions and empowering leadership dimensions.
Method: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted with a convenience sample of Portuguese workers (N = 125). Cronbach’s alpha was utilized to examine the reliability of the dimensions. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and simple linear regressions were used to analyze the association between empowering leadership and psychological empowerment dimensions.
Measuring Instruments: Spreitzer’s Psychological Instrument and the Empowering Leadership Scale were administered.
Main findings: The results revealed significant and positive correlations between empowering leadership and psychological empowerment dimensions, especially employee self-determination.
Implications/limitations: This research demonstrates that leaders can have an active role in increasing employee psychological empowerment, which can be an antecedent of positive employee attitudes and work outcomes. It is suggested in future studies to use more extensive and more representative samples. Furthermore, longitudinal and experimental research designs will verify if there is a significant causal relationship between empowering leadership and psychological empowerment.
Value of the paper: This study empirically confirms that empowering leadership is associated with employees’ psychological empowerment among Portuguese workers.
Keywords: empowering leadership, psychological empowerment, Portuguese workers, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, linear regression
Type of paper: Research paper

Author Biographies

Rita Serrenho, Universidade de Évora

Graduated in Management in 2018 at the School of Social Sciences at the University of Évora. Master’s in Management - the specialty of Human Resources - at the same University, awaits the provision of public evidence of a dissertation entitled “Work Empowerment - A quantitative study of the impact of empowerment on individual performance.

Nuno Rebelo dos Santos, Universidade de Évora

Professor at the University of Evora and invited professor at the University of Coimbra. He teaches in several PhD and master courses and has been working for more than 25 years in executive training and development. Currently he is the vice-director of the master’s course in Psychology. He is an expert in qualitative research methods and has long experience in supervising PhD and master theses in work and organizational psychology. He has participated in several international research projects and is author of books, chapters and articles published in academic peer-reviewed journals, such as the International Labour Review, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, International Journal of Organizational Analysis, and Business and Society Review,  His main research interests are focused on global cooperation, leadership, development and decent work both at individual and collective levels (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1564-8120).

Andreia Dionísio, Universidade de Évora

Professor at Universidade de Évora, Management Department, specialized in statistics for business, data analysis, econometrics and econophysics and responsible for the Data Analysis courses. Her main research areas have included the study of stock markets, global dependence, efficiency, nonparametric methods, and fuzzy set analysis. Over the last 15 years, she has been involved in several research projects. She is co-authors of more than 30 research articles (http:// orcid.org/0000-0002-4289-9312). Presently is the Vice-Director of Center for Advanced Studies in Management and Economics of the University of Évora (CEFAGE).

Paulo Resende da Silva, Universidade de Évora

Professor at Universidade de Évora, Management Department and researcher of Center for Advanced Studies in Management and Economics of the University of Évora (CEFAGE), specialized in information management and change management and responsible for the Information Systems Management and Change Management courses. His main research areas have included the study of university management, human resources, digital transformation, and information management. Over the last 15 years, he has been involved in university management and member of the university's governance bodies, actively involved in research projects and on the third mission of the university projects. He co-authors of some articles and a large number of thesis supervision (http:// orcid.org/ 0000-0003-1961-4574).

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2022-02-03

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SERRENHO, Rita, DOS SANTOS, Nuno Rebelo, DIONÍSIO, Andreia and DA SILVA, Paulo Resende. Empowerment at work: An empirical study on Empowering Leadership and Psychological Empowerment. Journal of Positive Management. Online. 3 February 2022. Vol. 11, no. 1. [Accessed 27 September 2023]. DOI 10.12775/JPM.2020.004.

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