Leadership in Ensuring Positive Socio-Psychological Experiences of Employees

Abstract

Competitive environment along with the “24/7 Society” characterized by a perfectionist approach to work have become a real challenge for contemporary employees. They must frequently maintain a high working tempo, carry the workload, take increasingly more responsibilities, and face constant changes. Consequently, employees may feel threatened – either psychologically or socially. Leaders have a crucial role in this stressful working environment. They could both predict and reduce the feeling of vulnerability of employees and boost their self-confidence. Leaders could inspire employees, or conversely, make them feel unhappy or unsatisfied. Hence, leaders affect the socio-psychological experiences of the employees. Appropriate behaviors of leaders can ensure sustainable positive socio-psychological experiences; however, negative inappropriate behaviors can be treated as working environment threats and stressors. The aim of the paper is to reveal the critical leadership behavior-based threats and rewards that shape the socio-psychological experience of employees thus suggesting how leaders could ensure positive socio-psychological experiences for employees.