Sense of Coherence, Compassionate Love and Coping in International Leaders during the Transition into the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Abstract

Contemporary workplaces are influenced by rapid changes, high levels of competition, increasing complexities and internationalisation processes. At the edge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), insecurities and anxieties are high, and leaders are encouraged more than ever to lead employees with meaningful vision and prudence in order to make use of employees’ strengths, and ensure mental health and well-being. The aim of this article is to present new insights into salutogenesis, particularly sense of coherence (SOC), compassionate love (CL), and coping (C) in leaders with different cultural backgrounds. This study strengthens the idea that CL is a coping mechanism. This coping mechanism can be used by leaders to establish a resilient and salutogenic organisations. This article explores the subjective perspectives of 22 international leaders from five different countries and their views regarding SOC, CL and C through a qualitative research approach, using a qualitative online questionnaire for data collection and content analysis for data analysis. The findings on the perspectives of leaders provide new and original insights into how SOC, CL and C are connected, and how these concepts contribute to healthy organisations which are on their way to the transition into the 4IR. Conclusions are drawn. Recommendations for future research and practice are given.

The Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Managers’ Sense of Coherence

“…Similar to Abdulla (2019), who found that most South African managers had a positive view of the technologies available due to the 4IR, however, negative views were also shared. In addition, Mayer and Oosthuizen [ 26 ] found that international managers tend to focus on positive elements when working with challenges during the transition into the 4IR due to their substantial focus on a strong Sense of Coherence, salutogenesis and meaningfulness. Furthermore, majority of managers’ work is meaningful when they are able to utilize technology to reach more people and upskill them.…”

“…Furthermore, in South Africa, the 4IR has brought in new employment equity (EE) practices that will govern the effects of this revolution [ 26 ]. Oosthuizen and Mayer [ 27 ] (p. 2) state that as “job mobility, consent retraining and rotation” are necessary to improve managers’ flexibility, employability and suitability in today’s world of work, an adaptation to EE is necessary to address the changing work environment.…”

“…Various literature has examined the effects of the 4IR on individuals and to gather a greater understanding of the 4IR [ 4 , 22 ]. However, a lack of research is conducted on managerial managers’ sense of coherence levels during the 4IR [ 26 ]. Although a study [ 26 ] was conducted to determine how salutogenesis can assist international leaders to cultivate healthy organizations, research lacks to address the question of how various levels of South African managerial managers are functioning during the 4IR.…”

“…However, a lack of research is conducted on managerial managers’ sense of coherence levels during the 4IR [ 26 ]. Although a study [ 26 ] was conducted to determine how salutogenesis can assist international leaders to cultivate healthy organizations, research lacks to address the question of how various levels of South African managerial managers are functioning during the 4IR. The 4IR creates various technological changes that will disrupt how a business operates and generate value, the way people work and live [ 3 , 47 ].…”

Salutogenesis and Coping: Ways to Overcome Stress and Conflict

“…International leaders need new skills in the rapidly changing world of work, as well as new resources to cope with and manage stress. In the last article in this issue, Claude-Hélène Mayer and Rudolph M. Oosthuizen [ 20 ], present findings from an international study showing that SOC, compassionate love, and coping interrelate are important resources for staying healthy.…”