Investigating aspects of paternalistic leadership within the job demands–resources model

Abstract

The literature on the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory has flourished for the past decade due to the theory's simplicity and its applications in many areas of work life. However, the literature is lacking on how leaders can utilize this theory to manage employees, especially in the Asian leadership context. Using the JD-R theory, the current study investigated each aspect of paternalistic leadership (i.e., benevolent leadership, authoritarian leadership and moral leadership) and its influence on employees' job resources (i.e., work meaningfulness and influence at work), job demands (i.e., emotional and cognitive demands), work engagement, burnout and the processes involved. Four hundred and thirty-one (431) full-time working employees (mean age: 31.58; female: 57.8%) from various organizations in Malaysia participated in the study. Using structural equation modelling, the study's results showed that the benevolent aspect of paternalistic leadership was related to higher work engagement and lower burnout through work meaningfulness (but not through influence at work). In contrast, the authoritarian aspect of paternalistic leadership was related to higher burnout through emotional demands (but not through cognitive demands), while the moral leadership aspect had no significant relationship to employees' job demands or job resources, with a mediation process not found in either relationship. Overall, the study revealed three contrasting mechanisms for each aspect of paternalistic leadership and suggested how paternalistic leadership may be practised in Asian countries.

Job flourishing : Multilevel determinants and mechanisms

“…Interestingly, instrumental leadership provides a contextual top-down influence on individual job flourishing, offering job resources that induce motivation to work well. Our evidence on the leaders' style as a job resource for followers at work (Lee et al, 2023; answers the call for multilevel studies with JD-R theory and adds insight to this lens, based also on the SDT .…”

Can Paternalistic Leadership Promote Chinese College Teachers’ Creativity? Understanding the Mediating Role of Creative Self-Efficacy

“…Authoritarian leadership usually implies specific rewards, punishments, centralized power, and absolute control of leadership behaviors influenced by the ancient Chinese hierarchy (Chen et al, 2018). It manifests as leaders having strong authority and absolute power over others, keeping a distance from subordinates, and tending to hide true feelings and intentions (Gu et al, 2018;Lee et al, 2023). These behaviors provoke subordinates to be in awe or fear of authoritarian leadership, thus forcing them to obey (Hou et al, 2019).…”

“…Benevolent leadership refers to behaviors in which leaders show holistic concern for individual employees and their families, manifested in individual care and compassionate tolerance (Farh & Cheng, 2000;Gyamerah et al, 2022). Leaders show genuine kindness and care for their subordinates, which creates gratitude and further enhances subordinates' compliance (Lee et al, 2023). In the educational literature, benevolent leadership refers to the wholehearted and sincere behavior of school leaders toward their teachers; through such behavior, they assist teachers in fulfilling their job responsibilities and demonstrate holistic concern for the teachers' personal and family lives (Li et al, 2018).…”

Paternalistic Leadership in Law Firm: Indicators of Success and Implementation

“…Its implementation strategy includes fostering strong relationships, developing leadership skills, building a positive organizational culture, flexibility, adaptability, and effective communication (Yao & Hao, 2023). With this in mind, paternalistic leadership can be an effective model in achieving organizational goals and employee well-being (Lee et al, 2023). Indicators of success and implementation in law offices are two important aspects that are interrelated in managing and developing a law firm (del Rocío Campoverde Palma, 2023).…”