Leading With Joy: An Approach to Employee Well-Being and Person

December 3, 2025

Leading With Joy: An Approach to Employee Well-Being and Person–Supervisor Fit

Robert Harvey Van Hees | 2024

Abstract

Despite decades of leadership research, recent experiences from the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting have demonstrated the need to understand the causes and solutions of employee dissatisfaction in the workplace. A dissatisfied workforce is misaligned with their leaders and is thus joyless. However, workers have a right to experience joy in the workplace, which is the responsibility of management. Neglecting the emotional state of employees ignores their well-being and results in undesirable outcomes. This study examined the relationships between employee well-being (EWB), person–supervisor (PS) fit, leading with joy, and physical health as a control variable. EWB is a worker’s sense of overall wellness based on subjective self-assessment and emotional state. PS fit is the perceived alignment in personality, attitudes, and values between the employee and supervisor. Leading with joy is positive leader behavior that recognizes individual efforts, celebrates achievements, and connects work to organizational outcomes. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the control variable physical health had a significant impact on EWB. PS fit also had a significant impact on EWB; however, PS fit did not moderate the relationship between leading with joy and EWB. This study makes theoretical contributions to the organizational leadership literature and offers recommendations for future research. Keywords: employee well-being, person-supervisor fit, leading with joy, physical health, hierarchical multiple regression

Request Information

"*" indicates required fields

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Online or On Campus*

Online

On Campus

On Campus Degree Type*

Online Degree Type*

Choose a Program*

This program is designed for registered nurses looking to advance their degree. A valid, unencumbered RN license is required to apply.

RN License Confirmation*

I currently hold a valid RN license

Don't have your RN license yet? Explore other Regent programs.

High School Graduation*

Are you an employee or the spouse/dependent of an employee?*

Employee

Spouse/Dependent

Are you a JCI USA member or benefitted employee, or the spouse/dependent of an employee?*

Employee/Member

Spouse/Dependent

Email Address*

Company*

Agency*

Employee's Company*

Employee's Agency*

Company Email Address*

Agency Email Address*

Your Email Address*

Employee's Company Email Address*

Employee's Agency Email Address*

Employee's First Name*

Employee/Member's First Name*

Employee's Last Name*

Employee/Member's Last Name*

Your Email Address*

First Name*

Last Name*

I live outside the US

Address*